Mickey Thomas writes EXCLUSIVELY for Red Passion

I want you to know that I’m writing this column against my will - I demand to be in the starting line-up for that “Worst Wrexham Haircut XI”! I’m still very upset.

Lots going on in my life at the moment. I went down to Llanelli the other week to watch my son Aaron play for Rhyl. He’s scored a couple of goals recently and is doing well. It was a long trip down there though. It usually takes about three and a half hours, but with a police car chasing me I did it in two! I think the League of Wales is in a bit of trouble at the moment. Several clubs have got big financial problems. A couple of them have been in touch with me. They need some money quick…

Celtic has been the big issue on my radio show. John Barnes is a really nice bloke - I played against him quite a few times. But he had a difficult job, and after that incredibly embarrassing defeat against Inverness Caledonian Thistle he had to go. I’m a Celtic fan myself…and managers at Parkhead have got to be successful. A few other topics have cropped up on my radio show recently: the “10-yard rule” for dissent (I’m very much in favour of it) and the ref who celebrated Patrik Berger’s goal against Leeds (he’s human of course - but I agree that he should have been reprimanded). I had a bit of a problem the other day though. I got caught in traffic on the M62 and had to jump on to a train in Warrington. Otherwise, I’d have been late for my show!

Things have picked up slightly at Wrexham. I’m in touch with Joey almost every day and everyone at the club knows that there’s still work to do. A few people say I’m a bit too pro-Flynn, but I’ll always stick up for the guy. He’s got no money and he’s keeping the club afloat. That’s got to be an achievement. Look at Chester - that’s what can happen to a club.

I’m very interested in the Joey interview that Red Passion is serialising. He was a Liverpool fan when he was a kid, and I followed Everton. But we still got on - amazing! I’ve had a sneak preview of what Joey said in his interview and I can agree with him on one thing. We did cause havoc in those early days when we travelled from the Coast to Wrexham. I don’t think we ever paid! We were just kids - and you know what kids are like. We were determined though. We were scrappers too. In those days Joey had a black eye almost permanently.

I played for Rhyl Vets the other day. My mate Pete Parry was playing and so was Mel Pejic. Mel played like Carlos Alberto - he was fantastic. Very strong and commanding at the back; I really believe Mel retired from football a little too early. Joey let the side down though. He said he had a “sore back” and didn’t play. The big softy!

I hear Wrexham are off to Trinidad and Tobago at the end of the season. Sounds great: the players will be able to top up their tans. I’m beginning to hate flying - so I won’t be there to watch them. I’ve never actually been to the Caribbean but, obviously, with Man United and Wales, I have seen a lot of the world: America, Kuwait, Scandanavia. Everywhere! My favourite place was Sweden: a nice, healthy country - and all those blondes!

I see that Sparky has picked his first Wales squad. Good luck to him - but I can’t help feeling that Qatar is a long way to go for a friendly match. He might even get Giggsy to play…

I met up with Gordon Strachan in Coventry the other day. I was interviewing him for MUTV - he really is a nice bloke. Robbie Keane came up to me as well. He’s a tremendous player and he reminded me that he actually played for Wolves in my Testimonial game. I’d forgotten that!

Cheers