22 December 2004
By RICHARD WILLIAMS
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| Denis Smith and Kevin Russell on the bench at an isle of Man Football Festival |
DENIS SMITH is hoping Wrexham are
invited back to the Isle of Man Football Festival.
The club, who have won the summer tournament a record five times, yesterday
applied for an invitation to next year's event.
Wrexham should hear whether they are successful early next year and Smith says
the tournament is the ideal curtain raiser to the season.
Smith said today: "It's a good tournament and is financially right for the club
because it costs us nothing.
"The standard of the pitches are good, they look after you there, the people are
pleasant and they go out of their way to make you feel welcome.
"From that point of view it's worth it and for a club of our size it's the ideal
place to go."
THREE DAYS
Changes have been made to the format of next year's competition which will again
take place on the island in July but just over three days and not a week.
Three clubs will join the Isle of Man national XI, instead of five, for the
four-team tournament which will now see two semi-finals played on Friday, July
22.
The two winners will play each other in the final on the following Sunday,
preceded by the third place play-off.
Whether Wrexham are successful or not, Smith says he will have to look at the
alternatives as the Reds begin their build-up to the 2004-05 season.
Smith said: "It's straight forward applying, but we'll have to wait and see what
happens because we are not the holders.
"And if we can't go back, we'll have to look at where we can go and what we can
afford.
"We'll take them away somewhere,
somehow, as it's very important for players to get to know each other quickly."
Which division Wrexham are in next season remains to be seen as Smith tries to
pull the Reds out of the relegation places in League One following their ten
point deduction for going into
administration.
Wrexham have four games in a busy nine-day period over Christmas, beginning with
Boxing Day's trip to Bradford City (3pm).
And there's no let up in January, despite a free Saturday due to Wrexham being
out of the FA Cup, with a total of eight games during the month.
And Smith, who is hoping his long term injury victims are available in the New
Year, said: "We don't play football, we churn out the games!
"I know we have got the LDV Vans Trophy match and FAW Premier Cup in January,
but November and December were busy due to international call-ups, and a spell
of four games in ten days.
"Nothing's dropping for us, but it will change."
Smith has been without as many as seven long-term absentees this season and is
currently just without Carlos Edwards, Brian Carey, Danny Williams and Dean
Bennett.
But there are other problems for Smith ahead of Sunday's clash at Bradford.
Smith said: "Shaun Pejic and Scott Green have been off ill but Scott was back in
training yesterday and picked up a groin strain. He could be struggling for
Sunday."
Chris Llewellyn also has a groin strain and there was more bad news for Smith as
physio Mel Pejic, who has been kept busy this season, is also off ill.
"You're talking of things being better, no they're not," added Smith. "But it's
only Wednesday and we've got until Sunday."