By Rob Griffiths, Daily Post
10 June 2008
WREXHAM
boss Brian Little has reassured fans that everyone at the club is working as
hard as possible to ensure the Dragons regain their Football League status at
the first time of asking.
So far Wrexham have signed Paul Carden, Simon Brown and Jefferson Louis, and
Little refused to rule out any more coming in before the start of their Blue
Square Premier campaign.
But Little was also adamant that it was not a short term plan being put in place
for one season, but that he was hoping to make the club competitive should they
return to League Two.
“My aim is to get the club back on an even footing,” said Little.
“They have had some great times under Denis (Smith) and Brian Flynn, but it has
been a little bit in the doldrums over the last couple of seasons and we are
working hard now to make sure we can get those good times back here again.
“Whatever types of players we are bringing in we are confident that they can get
us back up in the Football League.
“I’ve been looking at the Conference and the top six clubs and I feel they are
all good enough to more than hold their own in League Two, so we are working
hard and trying to bring in players of enough quality to get us up and then keep
us up.
“If you look at the top clubs in the Conference last season, the ones that were
around the play-offs, the likes of Torquay, Burton Albion, Aldershot, then I
feel they could all do a good job in League Two, so that is our aim.”
Little also reiterated that he hoped to see more new faces coming in to the club
before the start of the season.
One player that has been spotted being shown around the club was Brentford
striker Ricky Shakes, but when asked about the possibility of another signing
Little laughed: “I have to compliment you on your homework, and finding out
about one player that has been shown around here.
“But he is one of about 21 players that we have been showing around the club. So
you may have spotted one but you’ve missed the other 20.
“We are working hard and trying our best to get in players that we feel can do a
job for us and I can tell you that we have had a lot of players that have shown
an interest in the club, but it is still very early stages.
“While I’ve been away on holiday recently, I’ve still been in contact with a lot
of players agents and representatives, as have Martin (Foyle) and Brian (Carey).
“But it’s still a little bit early. We’ve spoken to people, but they have said
that they are still weighing up offers from other places and all we can do is
hold.
“We feel we have got an attractive package here with the ground and the training
facilities, but we would expect it to get a bit busier towards the end of June
early July.”
Meanwhile, new signing Louis has backed himself to score the goals that get
Wrexham back into the Football League.
Louis, 29, joined the Dragons last week from fellow relegated outfit Mansfield
Town and admits he is confident he can fire the club to promotion at the first
time of asking.
“I joined because of what the manager said to me,” Louis said.
“The manager said he wanted to get the club back up at the first attempt and
said the club had really big plans.
“And I want to be a part of that. I had offers from other league clubs, but I
looked at Wrexham and after speaking to the manager and seeing the facilities I
knew I was making the right decision.”
Louis added: “Fans can expect a lot of hard work from me, and I will always back
myself to score goals.
“I have done everywhere I’ve been in my career and I will back myself to do the
same here at Wrexham.”
And Louis also had a word of praise for what he described as among the most
passionate fans he has ever encountered.
“I’ve been to Wrexham a few times as an opponent,” said the former Mansfield
man.
“And I’ve always thought the fans were great at Wrexham.
“They get behind the team and are very passionate, and as a player you can’t
really ask for any more than that from them.
“I think it’s the same will all the Welsh clubs, all the fans are very
passionate and take their sport very seriously, and they really get behind the
players.”