Mike's verdict on the promotion-winning Wrexham squad
Question:
‘Mike - what do you remember of your Wrexham teammates?’
Answer:
‘Andy Marriott: Very good keeper, nice guy.
Mark Morris: He did reasonably well and I felt sorry for him when he was displaced as keeper. He seemed to have trouble with his weight. But when Marriott arrived I think Mark's days were always going to be numbered. There was also Mark Cartwright coming through in the reserves. I think he moved to Runcorn and has done pretty well in non-league. I think he suffered really harshly. There's no loyalty in football, it' s just something you've got to live with. You've just got to make the most of it.
Barry Jones: Centre-half and full-back - very rarely found out. He was very solid and reliable and good in the air. We were an attacking team but we had a good back-four. We didn't let things slip in defence.
Phil Hardy: Attacking full-back. Lost his way I think. He did really well at Halifax in the Worthington Cup though - back to his best, I'd say.
Mel Pejic: He played a lot with Tony Humes at the back. He was the speedier of the two and he was brilliant in the promotion year. I don't think he got the plaudits he deserved - a different class. I know he's physio now - I've always thought in fact that he retired too soon. He's a fit lad and reads the game well. I'm sure he could have had two more seasons in him. I was surprised by his retirement. But obviously he's got a family and he's got to think about his security. He clearly took the opportunity he was given.
Barry Hunter: He was a really good signing. He was a great character and scored his fair share of last-gasp headers. He was a bit of a stick-man. He didn't look the strongest, but he was tough in the tackle. I think he is still injured at Reading.
Dave Brammer: Looked good - played a bit, looked alright.
Gareth Owen: Halifax away was the first time I'd seen him since I left. He's an action player; his workrate is unbelievable - non-stop. He's quick, gets forward and is always on the attack. He's got a good shot and is always likely to score.
Bryan Hughes: He was excellent and really deserved his move. He always had a knack of popping up in the right place at the right time. He also worked hard. I think he came in when I was injured and looked really good. I saw him play a few times - he scored quite a lot of goals. I suppose the £1million price tag surprised me a bit, but I think the club should have spent more of it on players. The club needs a big push.
Wayne Phillips: I played quite a lot with him and I watched him a lot when I was out injured. He is a good player and versatile. I just felt he never got the plaudits he deserved. He is very fit and worked very hard. He was quiet but he came good.
Kieran Durkan: Kizza did OK. He played a bit in the first team and travelled in with us as well to training every morning. He was a great crosser of the ball with either foot and he could whip a good ball in. I know at Stockport Brett Angell benefitted a lot from Durkan's crosses, and I was surprised that County let him go to Macclesfield.
Karl Connolly: I thought he'd have got a move by now. He was a different class. He's a brilliant mover, he's got great vision - he's got it all. He's also very good with his back to goal - and with his front to goal as well. On the wing he could deliver quality ball, and he's also obviously played down the middle. He's due a move.
Taylor: The Doc! He was one of my muckers. He came from Blackpool and he was a really funny lad. He wore this black coat and looked like Dick Dastardly. I think the crowd were very unfair on him and I was really sorry about the treatment he got. He was a nice lad and good to be with and he always gave 100%.
Steve Watkin: I thought he might have missed out on a move. I was surprised when they eventually let him go. He was a perfect foil for Benno.
Gary Bennett: Different class; off the pitch he was involved in everything - you need characters like him in the dressing room. A big character; got two unbelievable moves - I'm sorry they didn't work out for him. It seemed to work for him at Wrexham only in his first spell. He was an amazing player. He had great skill but I remember at Tranmere they used him on the wing. This was probably good for Tranmere but not for Benno. Around the goal area he was very single-minded. In fact, he was very annoying. You'd pass it to him and never get it back! But I suppose as a striker you've got to be single-minded. At other clubs he hasn't done so well - things just haven't clicked. I just think there was something about Wrexham that suited Benno. At training, for example, he used to mess around. He was always moaning, but when Saturdays came around he always did the business. Maybe he just couldn't get away with this kind of behaviour at other clubs, where there are different set-ups. He was always the centre of attention and everything had to revolve around him. He was a big fish in a small pond and everything just seemed to work.
Jonathan Cross: He stood out and I thought he would have gone on to better things. He had a lot of skill: he was a good crosser, he took good corners, and scored goals. He looked a likely lad. He had some weaknesses I think, which he had to work on, but he had great ability. I think he just needed to strengthen up, but obviously things never materialised with him. I know that Blackburn and some other big clubs were looking at him, but I just don't know what happened.
John Paskin: He was a good lad and a great bloke to have in the changing room. He was also a super sub! He went to Bury and then he had talks with Stalybridge Celtic when they were managed by my old Macclesfield boss. Then he went back to Hong Kong and Japan but he came back and then went to South Africa, where he originally came from. He's now playing over there in the top league - in front of crowds of over 30,000! ’