Wrexham Evening Leader

Smith praises fans
By Richard Williams, Evening Leader

22/11/04

Fans UnitedREDS' fans have demonstrated that Wrexham Football Club is worth saving.

That was manager Denis Smith's view as nearly 8,000 supporters packed into the Racecourse for Saturday's 3-1 defeat against Bristol City.

Fans from all over the country boosted the attendance and Smith was delighted with the turn-out.

He said: "It proved we are a club worth saving. There were fans from all over the country which was superb. There were Brighton fans, people from Stoke, it's great to see the support coming from all over to help out a club in North Wales.

"It just says that this is a club worth saving and hopefully today's proved that.

"It's important for fans to keep coming but I can't force them. It would have been nice to win and that perhaps would have encouraged them a little bit more but I think they can see what we're trying to do.

"We don't just boot it, we do pass it and the movement's quite good. We came up against a team who are clinical in their finishing. We have got to live with that, there are times when you are going to get beaten by better teams.

"I don't like it but hopefully when I get everybody fit we can compete with teams like Bristol City. If I can get two or three of them back then at least that will be a start.

Smith revealed there had been interest regarding people buying the club but no new bids.

"There have been a couple of phone calls, people saying they are interested. But saying they are interested and actually coming up with the cash is a little bit different," said Smith.

"Alex Hamilton has got to decide if he wants to sell. He said he is going to sell but he hasn't come up with a price which anybody can pin down.

"We'll have to wait and see. I hope that will happen. Ten points off us is not something I would like but administration is better than liquidation.

"I think that once I get my players fit, even if we have ten points taken off us, we'll do well enough to avoid going down."

Smith questioned the decision to award Bristol City a penalty, from which they scored, but he is disappointed that his side is beginning to leak goals.

Dennis Lawrence and Hector Sam were both included in the starting eleven after playing for Trinidad and Tobago in midweek and Smith admitted that may not have been the right choice.

"Until that penalty decision we were on top. We hit the bar, the keeper made a good save from Mark Jones and I was quite pleased with the way things were going," said Smith.

"But the referee decided it was a penalty and there's not much you can do about it. Apparently the linesman on that side said he didn't think it was one but the one person who matters did.

"He makes a decision as he sees it. From where I was it didn't look a penalty, until we see it on the video we won't know.

"We needed to get the one goal after half-time to bring us back but once the third one went in the game was over.

"We're leaking a few too many goals which is not us.

"The two lads getting back from Trinidad, they both looked a bit leggy. What do you expect, perhaps I was wrong to start them but you take gambles. It hasn't paid off on this occasion."

Smith says Wrexham have got to start taking their chances in front of goal and despite the defeat said there were positives to be taken from the game.

He said: "We have got to be a bit more clinical with our finishing but there were pleasing points. I thought Mark Jones didn't do too badly. He dipped in and out of the game a little bit more than I would have liked but it was a pleasing game for him.

"I thought Juan when he came on looked lively, could have scored but hit the post and the bar. I have got to take the positives out of it.

"In two or three weeks time I'll have people back and then we can start saying how good are we, but I think we will do alright."

* Wrexham have sold out of stand tickets for their LDV Vans Trophy clash at Chester City a week tomorrow. There are tickets still available for the terracing and they cost: Adults: £13.00, OAP's: £8.00, Jnrs: £5.00 (cash only).

* Wrexham's gatemen donated £642 to the Trust fund or Saturday.