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CHRIS LLEWELLYN today
explained why it was such a wrench to leave Wrexham.
The 25-year-old striker started preseason training at his new club,
Hartlepool, today, saying it was the prospect of staying in League One that
eventually swayed him.
Speaking from the North East this morning, Llewellyn, picked out the Welsh
Cup win last season and last April's never-to-be-forgotten LDV Vans Trophy
final success as the highlights of his two year stay at The Racecourse.
"It was a big wrench to leave," said Llewellyn, who signed a two year deal
-with a option for a third term - at Victoria Park yesterday.
"I was very happy at Wrexham. I was settled in the area and it was my
daughter's first home. But the decision to leave
was one made on football grounds, nothing else. It's definitely not for
money because I'm on slightly less here.
"I'd like to thank Wrexham fans for their support and I hope they do well
this season. I'd have loved to have stayed but I wanted to play at a higher
level and I had my international career to think about too.
"My first impressions of Hartlepool are good. They're ambitious and have two
nice training grounds and I like the way they play."
Llewellyn's last trip to the North East obviously played a big part in new
Pool manager's Martin Scott bid to buy him.
'The last time I was here was the 6-4 win and I had a bit of a laugh with
the manager about that one," added Llewellyn, who set up four of Juan
Ugarte's five goals there last season.
Scott first made an enquiry for Llewellyn after the FAW Premier Cup final
defeat by Swansea City in May.
"I am really pleased to have him on board," said Scott. "He is a player that
I picked out two or three years ago as being a big talent - he has scored
goals throughout his career and he'll be a great acquisition for us.
'The thing that impressed me was his ability to play in different positions;
he can operate on the right or left, just in behind the front two, or as a
striker, which is a real bonus."
No figures of how much Pool paid for Llewellyn have been revealed although
Reds boss Denis Smith admitted that they didn't get what they should have
done for the Welsh international.
Details of the fee accepted for Craig Morgan from MK Dons were also sketchy
after the Welsh under 21 international defender signed on yesterday.
Dons boss Danny Wilson said: "Craig is a player I've admired for quite a
while and I think he's got terrific potential.
"It is only a matter of time before he becomes a full Welsh international
and I'd expect that to happen this season.
"He will be a terrific asset to us. For a young lad he's played a lot of
games and has terrific experience. He's been in the Wrexham team for a
couple of seasons now and in that respect it shows how highly regarded he
was there."
Also leaving Wrexham yesterday was striker Juan Ugarte, who signed a two
year deal with Crewe Alex.
Ugarte, who hit 22 goals in 38 appearances last season, flew to Crewe's
Portuguese training camp yesterday to complete his free transfer deal. |
The decision to leave
was one made on football grounds, nothing else. It's definitely not for
money because I'm on slightly less here
Chris Llewellyn
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