By Chris Dunlavy
WREXHAM boss Dean Keates says the Dragons’ limp finale to a wretched season convinced him to wield the axe this summer.
The Welsh giants won just one of their last ten games to finish 13th in the National League – their second lowest finish since relegation from League Two in 2008.
Keates – who captained Wrexham to two Conference play-off semi-finals before being named manager in October – decided he’d seen enough and binned 12 players last month, including experienced campaigners Martin Riley and Shwan Jalal.
“When you’re finishing below mid-table, when you’re looking over your shoulder in January – that isn’t good enough for a club like Wrexham,” explained the 38-year-old.
Clean slate
“That fact was at the forefront of my mind. During that last ten games, we were were assessing the lads already in the building, changing formations to give everyone a chance.
“But we were also looking outside, tracking certain players. Then it’s about making your mind up which is better. You ask ‘Who can take us on? Who can improve us?’ And coming towards the end, I realised it needed a pretty clean slate. We needed to start again.”
To that end, Keates and his staff have spent May ticking names off a 14-man shopping list as they seek to build a side capable of pushing for promotion.
Centre-backs James Hurst, from Dover Athletic, and Grimsby Town’s Shaun Pearson were the first to arrive, followed by left-back James Jennings, who spent the back end of last season on loan at the Racecourse from Cheltenham.
And Chris Holroyd, scorer of 14 goals for Macclesfield last season, was last week joined by midfielder Sam Wedgbury.
The 28-year-old recovered from a long-term knee injury to play in Forest Green’s play-off final victory over Tranmere but was released by Rovers boss Mark Cooper at the end of the season.
“Sam’s full of enthusiasm, he’s honest, he works hard,” said Keates, who has also brought in keeper Christian Dibble, winger Jack Mackreth and defender Manny Smith.
“He’s got all the characteristics I want to see in the changing room. He’s very much a team player and, from speaking to him, he’s bought into everything I want to do.
“He sees the club for what it is – a big challenge with a lot of expectation and that’s something he embraces.
“We’re looking for that in every player we sign. That enthusiasm and passion from the supporters – it’s always been there.
“They just need a spark, something to get them going again after a tough few years. They’re desperate to support their team and that’s what we tell all the lads who walk through the door. Give those fans commitment, give them everything, and they’ll back you.”
Having arrived in the midst of a relegation battle, Keates is looking forward to pre-season far more than did as a player.
Organisation
“That’s definitely true,” says the 38-year-old. “When I got here it was purely a case of making sure we were in a decent position by January, then making a few changes. We did improve but there was no real opportunity to make a mark.
“Now I can get them organised, get them disciplined. The lads that we’ve already got in will make a difference and hopefully there’ll be a few more added in the coming weeks.
“With six play-off places, it’s an opportunity for teams like us. There’s some big budgets in the division but a combination of organisation and fight can get you a long way.
“With a bit of luck, I’d like to think we’ll be up there challenging.”
