05 August 2005
By RICHARD WILLIAMS
| DENIS SMITH is setting
his sights on promotion. The Reds' boss was today putting the finishing touches to his sides' preparations for their opening League Two encounter against big-spending Boston United at The Racecourse tomorrow (3pm). Much is expected of Boston but Smith - as positive as ever - is also setting his sights high as Wrexham aim to return to League One at the first attempt. "I am going into the season looking at finishing top," Smith said today. "Whether we are capable of that is another matter. Fifty per cent of the team is new and you don't know how they will fare, whether we get injuries or not - no-one knows. "What I do know is that my attitude, and that of the players, is that we are going out there with the target of winning the league. It's sensible to think like that, but whether we are capable we'll have to wait and see. "If people are as positive as me then they will think that it is a promise. All I can promise is that we will put as much effort in as we can to achieve what will hopefully make everyone happy." Smith was delighted with the way that pre-season, which included matches against Liverpool, a Manchester United XI and a tour of Northern Ireland, went and is raring to go: "We had a good pre-season, now things get important," said Smith. "I start getting excited now. Pre-season was just work, this is where things start to happen, the important bit. Everything is sorted." Boston have made a stir with manager Steve Boston bringing in a number of high profile signings during the summer. Former Premiership strikers Julian Joachim and Noel Whelan are the big names who have gone to York Street but Smith said other signings, including defender Ben Elliott - who came in from rivals Lincoln — and former Brentford captain and midfilder Stuart Talbot, are just as crucial to Boston. "Boston have brought in a lot of players and everyone goes on about the strikers, but I think Futcher and Talbot are massive signings," said Smith. "From a football point of view, they are just as important and are two very good players. "I think Boston will expect a lot this season. If you spend money, people expect returns. If Boston had not made so many new signings, and big name players, they would not be talked about so much. "We will see whether they have spent the money wisely or not -changes are not always beneficial." Smith, who currently has an 18-man professional squad, will have 16 players available tomorrow. Long term knee injury victim Jim Whitley is still on the sidelines while Wales under 21 midfielder Matty Crowell will miss out with a knee injury. But Andy Holt, who missed training today because his wife had a baby girl yesterday, will be available, and deputy goalkeeper Michael Jones is fit enough to make the substitutes bench. The 17-year-old is back in training after fears he would be ruled out because he had been feeling pain in the wrist he broke last season. Smith is likely to have a scholar on stand-by, possibly Mike Done or Mike Williams - if he is passed fit after a shin problem - because Dave Bayliss' wife is due to give birth tomorrow. "I am on tenderhhooks," added Smith. "Andy's wife had a baby girl yesterday so that solves that problem, and we'll keep checking on Dave. "Darren Ferguson's wife has not been feeling particularly well so we'll have to wait and see tomorrow. "Matty Crowell has not made it. The knee has troubled him for the last four weeks but he trained and played in Northern Ireland last week and felt okay. "But then Matty came on against Manchester United on Tuesday and felt it so it is still troubling him." WREXHAM (from): Ingham, Pejic, Bayliss, Lawrence, Roche, D Williams, Ferguson, Mark Jones, Holt, McEvilly, Walters, Bennett, Spender, Mackin, Smith, Michael Jones. |
My attitude, and that of the players, is that we are going out there with the target of winning the league
Denis Smith
Matt Crowell is out of the Boston game |
