The BBC today reports in the story "Count me in, says Deano" that both Dean Saunders and Kevin Sheedy have joined the race to succeed Brian Flynn as Wrexham's manager.

The BBC quotes 37-year-old Saunders, a former Welsh international, as saying today: "Wrexham is a good club. I think Brian Flynn has worked under a tight rein in his time, but the club has got potential. I would say Wrexham is as big a club as Tranmere and they have had success in the FA Cup and reaching the final of the Worthington Cup. Wrexham's on a par with that. Obviously, money is a problem - the same as with Swansea. Cardiff City were lucky with Sam Hammam coming in at the right time. But the longer it goes on, then the gap becomes wider and wider. All I would say to Wrexham is 'give me a ring'. I would be interested in that sort of thing, especially with it being a Welsh club. I would listen to what they have to say".

The BBC reports that another plus as far as Saunders is concerned is Wrexham's proximity to his Liverpool home, having turned down a player-coach role with Crystal Palace recently because he didn't want to uproot his family again.

The former Swansea, Liverpool and Bradford striker is currently training at Blackburn Rovers and considering an offer of a monthly contract to play and coach with the Premiership side.

Saunders, who took his coaching badge during the summer, told the BBC today: "Graeme Souness has said I could sign a month-to-month contract with them, and if anything came up I wanted to do - player, management, whatever - then I could go and do it".

The BBC also quotes ex-Everton and Republic of Ireland international Kevin Sheedy, formerly assistant manager to John Aldridge at Tranmere Rovers, as saying today: "I'd like to be considered very much. There's a lot of potential here with a fine stadium and tremendous facilities and I'm sure there would be plenty of candidates".

While tonight's Evening Leader in the story "Just the job for big Nev" reports that former Everton and Wales goalkeeper Neville Southall has applied for the Wrexham job and former Wrexham, Everton and Southampton midfielder Barry Horne is also interested.

The Evening Leader quotes Reds Managing Director David Rhodes as saying today: “We'll today begin looking through the applicants who've applied for the position. We've already had 12-14 applications, mainly through telephone calls and from agents. They're all quality people who've been in, or are still in the game. Most of the people already linked with the job in the Evening Leader have either applied or have intimated they are interested in the vacancy. There's a good smattering of what I'd call good quality applications. We've also had one ‘crackpot’ application. I'll probably now have a chat with the chairman and we can go through the list in detail".

Former Everton and Wales defender Kevin Ratcliffe, now riding high in the Third Division as manager of Shrewsbury Town, was quoted in yesterday's Shropshire Star as playing down speculation linking him with the vacant Racecourse hot-seat.

The Shropshire Star quoted him as saying yesterday: "Whenever a job comes up at the minute my name seems to be mentioned. A couple of weeks ago it was Coventry and now this one. I can understand why given I'm local and my Welsh links. You always want to better yourself as player or a manager, but at the moment I'm quite happy with what I'm doing. Everything's going well and there's no reason to go anywhere else".

However, the BBC today quotes bookies favourite Ratcliffe as saying: "It flatters you if you're put up for any job, whether you're a player or manager. The speculation is flattering".

Former Wrexham striker Ian Rush has ruled himself out of the running saying that he doesn't want to go into management just yet, and unconfirmed rumours suggest that former Tranmere boss John Aldridge may also pass on the opportunity.