New Wrexham manager Gary Mills has already attempted to bring his own impact on the squad with some major statements. Upon his arrival, the 53-year-old stated that his priorities was to aim for it promotion spot while also playing attractive football along the way. While this may remain as the Holy Grail for any new manager, very few have managed to achieve it. Mills has not just arrived with headline statements, but he has also managed to oversee that there is some action behind those words. The club has already signed as many as 10 new faces in the summer transfer window. Betfair places Wrexham at 8/1 in the National League promotion odds.
Amidst suggestions that there could be more along the way, Mills has finally confirmed that he is happy with the squad. This hints at a potential end to the summer transfer activity at the Welsh club. The club stayed clear of relegation or promotion battles last season. While the former may delight the management, the club would have liked to have been involved in the promotion battle. Signing a large group of players in one transfer window can have a detrimental or positive effect depending upon the manager.
The latest name to join the squad is striker James Gray. He is the 10th signing made by Wrexham in the summer. The former Accrington Stanley name joins Wrexham in order to fill the void left by the departure of Louis Moult to Motherwell. Other players who have joined the club during this period include Kayden Jackson, Sean Newton, Jamal Fyfield, Lee Fowler, and Adam Smith.
Such a long list of signings represents a huge gamble by the club, but it is a gamble worth taking because of the managerial pedigree. Mills is someone who has enough experience of the football league. He has taken a couple of clubs from non-league into the prestigious status of league football. There have been failures along the way and one of the high-profile ones came in the 2013-14 season when Gateshead failed to reach the football league after losing the Cambridge United in the play-off final. Mills has won the FA Trophy with York City and he also led the club into the league in 2012.
More than bringing in a lot of names, Mills will be aware that he will have to get them together playing as a squad before the start of the new season. Wrexham open their season with an away game against Bromley on August 8. This is followed by two back-to-back home fixtures. It would not be surprising to see the club take the full complement of nine points from these opening fixtures. Such a positive start would be the least of expectations from the fans. In order to bring the squad together, Mills has appointed Fowler as the captain. The 32-year-old returned to the club for a second spell and will be leading his team.
The lack of any major off the field problems means that Tranmere Rovers are seen as the overwhelming favourites to secure promotion back to the football league. The club was relegated after having taken just nine wins from 46 League Two games. However, Betfair backs the team at a quite convincing 5/1 to win the title. Grimsby only narrowly missed out on promotion last season and they are also backed on a similar level. Forest Green sit further behind and are backed at 8/1 – the same odds as that of Wrexham.
Mills will be assisted by former Tottenham midfielder Darren Caskey.
