This week's Wrexham Mail reports on the imminent arrival of the Robins new Commercial Manager Christian Smith

Christian Smith

The new man at the helm of Wrexham FC's push for commercial success has revealed his plan for the club in an exclusive interview with the Mail.

Christian Smith, 29, will take over the reins of the commercial department on Monday and sees a bright future ahead.

"Wrexham are a club with a great deal of potential," said the University of Lancashire graduate. "It's a developing area with new businesses growing all the time.

"I aim to get these involved in the club - as well as getting more people through the turnstiles."

Smith cut his teeth working successfully for Leicester City after he finished University in 1993, with a degree. in Business Enterprise.

At Filbert Street he helped the club maximise it's revenue as the Foxes became an established Premier League team, winning the League Cup on two occasions.

Last February Christian moved to fellow Premiership club Coventry City where he became marketing manager.

He's sees running the commercial department as a massive challenge, but stresses he's going to enjoy it

"This is going to be exciting," he added. 

"Of course I'm going to have to come and look at every aspect of how the commercial department has been run.

"But I'm hopeful that some of the techniques I've learnt in the Premiership can help Wrexham live up to it's potential. We can be at least a very good first division club."

Smith, whose dad was also chairman at Leicester City, is convinced that Wrexham can make it to the big time.

"What is needed is forward planning and making sure everyone knows what's going on," he added. "It's my job to increase the revenue and get more people watching the games and I do have experience of doing this."

Smith was appointed after the previous commercial manager Cindy Toth was axed by the club last Thursday after a top level meeting.

Toth, from Hobart, Indiana, was appointed early in the season to replace previous commercial manager Allan Thomas.

The Wrexham board now hope they've got the right man in Smith to help the Robins maximise its potential.

Wrexham managing director David Rhodes said: "He was appointed through a recommendation made to the Chairman and we hope has a long career here."

We've still got a chance

We've still got a chance is the rallying cry from Reds assistant boss Kevin Reeves as refreshed Wrexham go into the last ten games.

Wrexham, who were out of action over the weekend due to international call-ups, are raring to go after their rest and face Brentford and Port Vale away in the coming week.

"We've got ten games left and we've got to finish them properly," said Reeves. "We'll keep plugging away until it's impossible - but if we win a few games and results go our way we've still got a chance."

Wrexham luck has been in the fact that they've lost their last two games - but their play-off opposition haven't been winning theirs.

"We've got some good games left," said Reeves. "And were playing a lot of teams we should really beat - so let's see what happens."

Safe from relegation Reeves also admitted that they are not afraid to try new things, especially if the play-offs get beyond their reach.

"If we win two we're still in the hunt," added Reeves. "So were going to play our strongest side and try and get the points.

"When we know we can't get into the play-offs I'm sure we give people on the fringes like Michael Blackwood and David Warren a run. David's been outstanding in the reserves recently."

Warren, a young Irishman, has been making appearances on the substitute bench of late, but the right back will face stiff competition from in-form Lee Roche.

"In general Lee has been very consistent," said Reeves. "He's had a few bad games, but he bounces back quickly and was excellent against Reading.

"I can't see us keeping hold of him because Manchester United rate him highly, but he's someone we know all about and if there was a chance to have him - we certainly would.

"His loan has worked for both clubs, but only because we knew he was going to be a first team regular."

Wrexham have injury and suspension problems for the upcoming games. Darren Ferguson is banned for both the Brentford and Port Vale trips.

But Martyn Chalk, Steven Thomas, Gareth Owen and Danny Williams came through another reserve match and are all vying for his midfield place.

Dennis Lawrence had a welcome to English football with bruised ribs suffered in the Bury game.

"We wanted to play him in a few games and get him used to the pace of the game," said Reeves

"This is a setback but hopefully we can get him involved before the end of the season." 

Fellow countrymen Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam are also close to full training.

The Wrexham Mail

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