Reds can bounce backs says Bayliss

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

03 June 2008

DAVE BAYLISS today hyped up Wrexham's chances of getting out of the Blue Square Premier at the first attempt.

Former centre-back Bayliss, who made 22 league appearances for Wrexham in the 2005-06 season, will face the Reds next season after guiding his Barrow side to promotion from Conference North.

Barrow won their play-off final 1-0 against Stalybridge to take their place in the fifth tier of the football pyramid for the first time in ten years.

The Cumbrians will be one of the less fancied teams in the division, as opposed to Wrexham whose 87-year unbroken membership of the Football League ended last season with relegation.

And Bayliss, joint manager with Darren Sheridan, believes Wrexham can challenge for promotion if they can quickly adapt to life in the non-league.

"I hope Wrexham do well and are up there challenging, but it won't be easy for them coming down," said Bayliss today. "People will expect Wrexham to take it by storm but they have got to get used to the division. It is a big league and teams will pay money.

"They are too big at that level and it is up to them to prove that.

"Brian Little is a fantastic manager and I am sure he will give it a really good go.

"I know Paul Carden and he is a great player at that level. He will be a good signing for Wrexham."

Denis Smith brought Bayliss to Wrexham in the summer of 2005 from Luton United but despite being a regular in the first half of the season, was frozen out after the turn of the year.

The 31-year-old Liverpudlian even joined former club Rochdale on loan in the spring of 2006 and was famously sent-off against Wrexham having been given permission by Smith to face his Reds' 'team-mates.'

And Bayliss believes he should have been given more opportunities at The Racecourse.

"There are a few games I am looking forward to such as Wrexham," said Bayliss. "I had some good years at Luton and Rochdale but it did not really work out for me at Wrexham.

"I don't think I was really given a fair crack. I was playing and then left out when I didn't deserve to be.

"But Wrexham is a fantastic club and I still speak to Brian Carey and Joey Jones for bits of advice."

Bayliss, who started the season as a player at Barrow, has certainly taken to management after taking charge with Sheridan following the club's poor start to the season.

Including their 4-0 aggregate victory over Telford United in the play-off semi-final, and single goal victory over Stalybridge in the final, Barrow – who finished the season in fifth position – only lost two of their final 32 league matches, keeping 16 clean sheets in that time.

And Bayliss is proud of the club's achievements after winning promotion along with runaway champions Kettering.

"When we took over we gave the players some confidence back," said Bayliss.

"They were foreign to the 4-3-3 system so we switched to 4-4-2. They responded to it and it gave them a new lease of life.

"I am very proud of our achievements.

"I would love to say it was just down to our tactics or our knowledge, but the players have responded to everything.

"They have been brilliant, one of the best teams in the division and proved they were punching above that level.

"We have been sorting out a decent training ground, pre-season friendlies and contracts, and it is only hitting home now, and the magnitude of what is in front of us.

"It is a different problem to last year. We were in the Conference North and would travel on the day – now we have got at least ten overnight trips next season.

"It's all very exciting for us all at the club.

"We won't be going full-time. If we did, we might lose a few players.
"The players will be going to places they have never been before, and playing against a decent standard every week.

"But they had the experience of it in the play-offs.

"And other teams will come to Barrow and there will be 3,500-4,000 hostile fans waiting for them.

"We will give it a good go. We won't roll over for anyone and the players have the same attitude – if they don't, they won't be playing.

"I am not saying we'll take the division by storm but we will be wholehearted and give it our best shot. We can't wait."