EXCLUSIVE By RICHARD WILLIAMS
29 December 2005
All time playing career
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PROLIFIC scorer Tony Thorpe today
arrived at Colliers Park for training.
The 31-year-old striker, recently released by League One strugglers Swindon Town
whom he joined in the summer from Queens Park Rangers, has scored nearly 150
league and cup goals in a successful career.
Leicester-born Thorpe was also the subject of a £1 million move when he made the
move to Bristol City from Fulham in the summer of 1998.
And though Wrexham manager Denis Smith was quick to stress that Thorpe -
ineligible for Saturdays clash against League Two leaders Grimsby Town at The
Racecourse on Saturday - was currently only training with the Reds, he is
interested in the striker.
The transfer window re-opens on Monday but Smith, because Wrexham are in
administration, is only allowed to operate with a squad of 20 players which he
has currently filled.
DECIDE
But Robbie Foy's loan deal from Liverpool ends next month and Paul Warhurst's
short-term deal also comes to an end, and Smith is keen to plug the gap in
attack vacated by the loss of Lee McEvilly who could be out for up to two months
with a stress fracture of the foot.
Smith now has to decide on his squad for the second half of the season.
"Tony has only arrived this morning for a few days to take a look at us and
whether he likes the set-up here," Smith said today. "Tony has been around, went
for £1 million earlier in his career and is a player who has always scored
goals. Tony has been released by Swindon, who are obviously having problems, and
has come down here.
"You have to make sure that if there is a lad out there who you know can score
goals, and the record in his career is good, you have to see if you can entice
him.
"At the moment I have got my squad of 20 and I have to sort that out. There are
decisions to be made on Robbie and Paul. Until I know my options we'll have to
wait and see "
Meanwhile, Smith was today trying to deal with another deep freeze.
Smith has already had to deal with the disappointment of seeing yesterday's
derby clash against Chester City postponed because of a frozen Saunders Honda
pitch, and his plans ahead of Saturday's clash with Grimsby Town have again been
hampered by the weather.
The pitches at Colliers Park were covered in frost following last night's
sub-zero temperatures with the Wrexham players due in for a full training
session.
And Smith was hastily trying to arrange an alternative work-out this morning.
"I am trying to figure out what we are going to do," Smith said today.
"We may have to take the players running or swimming but that was not what I
wanted to do. We will do some training but not what we had planned, especially
after yesterday's game was called off. We need to do something because the
players have missed a couple of days."
Saturday's opponents Grimsby went a point clear at the top of the table
following last night's 3-0 victory over Lincoln City and Smith added: "Grimsby
managed to get their game on last night, the whether must be better up there so
I am sure they have got somewhere to train."
Matty Crowell will be aiming to make it three goals in three games against
Grimsby on Saturday.
Midfielder Crowell has taken over the penalty duties in place of striker
McEvilly and has a 100 per cent record from two attempts.
And Crowell, who struck from the spot at Carlisle on December 17 prior to his
conversion against Rochdale on Boxing Day, revealed his secret when lining up
his penalties.
"I enjoy taking penalties, it is always good to score and I am not going to get
many other chances with the position I play. Every chance I get to take a
penalty I will take it. I would be embarrassed if I did not at least hit the
target from 12 yards," added Crowell.
"Against Rochdale on Monday, the goalkeeper moved early again, exactly the same
situation as at Carlisle. I was going to run up and drive it down the middle,
but as I run up he has moved early again so I just knocked it in the corner."
Boxes at The Racecourse are
available for Saturday's match against Grimsby and the clash against Lincoln
City on January 7 at discounted rates.
Each place costs £42.50 and for more information call (01978) 352536.