Wrexham Evening Leader

Wanderer Paul wants to stay put

27 October 2005

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

Paul WarhurstPAUL WARHURST is hoping to secure a contract at Wrexham until the end of the season – and add some stability to his footballing career.

The experienced 35-year-old defender, who has made six league starts for the Reds, signed a short-term contract that is due to expire in the New Year.

Warhurst was the subject of quite a few big money moves earlier on in his career when he represented a number of clubs in the Premiership, including Sheffield Wednesday, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.

But since leaving the Reebok Stadium at the end of the 2002-03 season, he has been attached to seven clubs, either on loan, trial or a non-contract basis.

And having settled at Wrexham, Warhurst would love to extend his stay at The Racecourse and help Denis Smith’s side in their bid for promotion, saying: “I am here until the second week in January. When I first spoke to Denis Smith, I was looking at staying until the end of the season but he explained about the situation with being in administration, and the pending court hearing.

FANTASTIC

“I am still hoping that something can be sorted because I would love to stay on until the end of the season. I am thoroughly enjoying it at Wrexham. It is a fantastic club and I am hoping it can go from strength to strength after the news last week, and can move on.

“From my point of view, I would like a bit of stability because I have done a lot of moving around over the last few years and to get that at Wrexham would be great. The target is to stay here and help add something to Wrexham getting out of League Two. If I can do that I will be delighted and it would be a fantastic season.”

And Warhurst believes Wrexham have got what it takes to mount a bid for promotion but also realises that the Reds have to improve their away form.

Wrexham have yet to win on their travels this season but fought back after trailing to a first half goal to earn a 1-1 draw at Peterborough on Tuesday with an Andy Holt equaliser coming just two minutes from time.

On the other hand, Wrexham’s results at The Racecourse have been superb and Warhurst acknowledged that the Reds’ need to take that form on the road – and cut out defensive mistakes.

“It is an open division and although we are disappointed to drop stupid points in some games because of silly mistakes, we know why we have lost and that helps because you can work on it,” said Warhurst.

“We could be in the top five if things had gone our way so we have to put things right and keep picking up points at home and do something about our away form.

“Home form is important but you need points from away matches too. And I’m sure that when we get that first away win it will settle everyone down a bit and confidence will grow.

“I am disappointed with some of the recent results but apart from that everything is going well. I picked up the ankle injury against Torquay United and although I only trained one day that week, was back on the bench against Bristol Rovers on Saturday and came through 90 minutes at Peterborough on Tuesday.

“It was a heavy pitch at Peterborough and although I feel a bit leggy everything is fine.”