By Mark Currie, Daily Post
17 December 2004
Matt Baker |
I was a little bit disappointed to be left out of the team after such a long spell
|
WREXHAM goalkeeper Matt Baker was last night
considering a move to Milton Keynes Dons after talks with the League One club's
new manager Danny Wilson.
The former Hereford United stopper, who celebrates his 25th birthday tomorrow,
said the first inkling of Wilson's interest came from Race-course boss Denis
Smith after training yesterday.
Signed last summer as an understudy to Andy Dibble, Baker was thrust into the
front line when the former Wales international sustained a serious hand injury
at Tranmere Rovers in September, and played 17 consecutive league and cup
matches.
But veteran Dibble was recalled 10 days ago for the home game against Stockport
County and retained his place in the line-up last weekend when, ironically, the
Dragons travelled to the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes and were
beaten 3-0 in what was Wilson's first match in charge.
Baker said: "I was a little bit disappointed to be left out of the team after
such a long spell, but that's part and parcel of the game.
"So I was surprised when the gaffer pulled me today and told me Danny Wilson
wanted to talk to me. The gaffer said that with Wrexham in administration at the
moment and the ongoing uncertainty for the future he felt it was only fair to
give me the opportunity to talk to another club."
If Baker does join the Dons, who like Wrexham are struggling in a League One
relegation battle, Smith's only has one other goalkeeper - teenage scholar Danny
Evans - on the books. But the club's joint administrator David Acland insisted
Smith had not been put under any pressure to reduce the size of his playing
staff.
"I don't want to get involved in the playing side of the club if at all
possible," he said.. "I'm sure Denis has his reasons for what's going on and
I'll be told if there is a need for me to know."
One player who has definitely cut his ties with the Racecourse is non-contract
signing Matt Shaw. The former Sheffield Wednesday youngster has moved to his
hometown club, Blackpool on similar terms
Shaw, who spent several months with the Dragons as an unpaid trialist, was
signed up in September in response to Wrexham's injury crisis and he made one
appearance for the Dragons as a 90th-minute substitute in a 2-1 win at
Colchester United.