18 July2005
By RICHARD WILLIAMS
| DENIS SMITH today
admitted he would have signed Ben Foster - but he's more than happy with his
two Wrexham goalkeepers. Foster, who spent four months on loan at The Racecourse last season, was today expected to leave Stoke City for Manchester United in a £1 million deal which could rise to £2.5 million. With chances limited at Stoke City, the 22-year-old jumped at the chance of first team football at Wrexham and a string of impressive performances caught the eye of United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who saw Foster produce a stunning display in Wrexham's LDV Vans Trophy win in Cardiff. Since then, Smith has brought in Michael Ingham, who was released by Sunderland, and his deputy is 17-year old Michael Jones who has progressed through the ranks at The Racecourse. The Reds' boss is delighted with the pedigree of his two shot-stoppers and also admitted Foster was a potential signing last season. "Ben was a great lad who really worked hard and he deserves this," Smith said today. "One morning here made me realise Ben was a good goalkeeper and I tried to take him permanently there and then. There are people out there - very few - who come along and you know immediately they are good. "But I have got two good goalkeeper here now. Michael Ingham has played at the highest level and has shown what he can do while Michael Jones will be a good keeper. "I would not take the chance of using one of the professional spaces in the squad if I didn't think he would be. Michael is not there yet but he could be very good. It was an easy decision to make. Ingham is one of five pre-season signings made so far by Smith and he is able to bring in one more player, two if veteran defender Brian Carey fails to prove his fitness following nine months out with a knee injury. Because the club is in administration, Smith is only allowed 20 professionals at The Racecourse and 18 are currently under contract. But whether trialist Aaron Samuel, who scored twice last week in Wrexham's 4-0 victory at Colwyn Bay, is still in the running to earn a deal remains to be seen. Eighteen-year-old Samuel, released by Arsenal, has returned back home to London but Smith was not willing to make a snap decision. "The ball is very much in Aaron's court," said Smith. "I would think there are other clubs after him but Aaron enjoyed it here and I am sure if I would have offered him a contract he would have taken it. "Aaron has got good pedigree but people are not impressed with what club a player has been at, it's what they have done. "The lad has done enough for me to take a bigger look at him but I am not in a position to make a rash decision without doing that. "I'm in a difficult position but I have still got six weeks to finalise my squad, though I would like to have it sorted by the end of the month before the season starts." Along with Ingham, Lee Roche, Lee McEvilly, Jon Walters and Dave Bayliss are the other new faces that Smith has brought in this summer. And skipper Darren Ferguson was pleased with the pre-season preparations. "Things are going well," Ferguson said today. "The new lads have settled in well, are gelling, so things are looking good. "Michael has played at a high level and I know Lee Roche will do well, he'll cruise this division. He's stronger and more experienced and a really good addition. "Dave, Jon and Lee McEvilly have shown they are decent players and I am sure they have got a point to prove. I think the gaffer has brought some good players into the squad.
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Ben was a great lad who really worked hard and he deserves this
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