DEAN KEATES is an inspired choice as Wrexham‘s new manager. The good thing for him is he’s going into a club that needs a major reshuffle – from top to bottom. He can have a real impact.
I’ve been in a similar situation when I was at Bristol Rovers and John Ward took over. When successful ex-players get the job – Dean lifted the FA Trophy as captain – it seems to get a different reaction to when other managers come in.
There’s just something about the chemistry between an ex-captain – I get it when I go back to Brighton – and the fans. You’re given more time.
As a player you know the day-in-and-day-out ways of the club and you pick up on the way things are run, and how you’d want to change it if you could.
When he was at the club, I’m sure there were things he would have tweaked had he been in charge. Now he can do that.
Patience
Players will always get the blame for performances. But I’ve been in situations where you can look around the club and see things that can be changed. When Gus Poyet came in at Brighton he literally changed the club within two weeks.
We were washing our own training kit – we were League One then but I’d even done that in the Championship when we were playing West Ham on the Saturday – so he put a stop to that.
He couldn’t believe we didn’t have a pre-match meal before a home game. We were just used to turning up at 1.30pm. Instead we went to a sports complex at 11am. It’s little things that can help players perform.
That’s why I say the fact Dean knows Wrexham can make a big difference. When an appointment like this is made, people – even the club staff – just give that extra ten per cent to make it work.
The last two managers they have given the job to, Kevin Wilkin and Gary Mills, both have pedigree at this level. It shows something’s not quite right.
Sometimes there can be a mentality in a club where excuse after excuse is given for why it’s not happening. You can relate it to Forest Green.
They’ve had the budget, but in the last few years they’ve never quite had the mental mind to win the league or win a play-off final.
I think Wrexham are going through the same thing. It feels like they feel the club is too big for the division and they shouldn’t be there.
Go for Broke
The reality is they aren’t the club they once were. I get this with Leeds United when I cover Championship football. Big club, but they are where they are for a reason.
Dean’s inheriting a squad that has nowhere near the quality it had last season. You can see that in the results, especially away from home. They’ve been so poor; they just don’t look like scoring.
But, really, Dean has nothing to lose. The fans will give him time because of who he is. At the minute they’ve got a bit of breathing space from the relegation zone, so he has the chance to try a few things.
If they were a point off relegation you wouldn’t have the games to experiment. It’s a massive month ahead for them with North Ferriby, Braintree and then Torquay. If he can pick up points against those sides they can build momentum.
