Conall confident of a Wrexham return

By Rob Griffiths, Daily Post

02 May 2008

A BRIEF loan spell with Droylsden in the Blue Square Premier has proved to Conall Murtagh that Wrexham should be in prime position to regain their Football League status at the first attempt.

And after returning from relegated Droylsden to Wrexham, midfielder Murtagh is desperate to make an impact in tomorrow’s final game of the campaign and prove he warrants a place in next season’s squad.

Murtagh was signed at the Racecourse by then manager Brian Carey last summer and had impressed in pre-season, before missing a chunk of the season through injury. After Brian Little took over as manager he was eventually allowed to go out on loan to Droylsden.

His time in the lower league means he has first-hand experience of how tough it’s going to be for the Dragons next season. But Murtagh is confident Wrexham will have enough about them to bounce back.

“From what I’ve seen of the league I honestly think Wrexham have got a very good chance next season,” said Murtagh, who has one year left on his contract.

“There are some big sides in the Coference, like Oxford and Exeter, but everyone is full time – with the exception of Droylsden and Northwich Victoria – so it’s not going to be easy.

“A lot will depend on who the manager brings in, but I am confident we should go back up. There’s a bit of mixture in the league with some big clubs like Oxford and Exeter, but there are also a lot of smaller clubs as well, and we are going to be the big fish in a wee pond. But I honestly think looking at the side we have now, and assuming that the manager is looking to bring people in that we are more than capable of going back up.”

The Northern Ireland-born ace is also hoping he can make a mark for himself in tomorrow’s match at Sincil Bank and prove his worth to the Dragons.

Murtagh, who joined Wrexham from Welsh Premier side Rhyl, added: “I think everyone is trying hard to prove they should be here next season.

“I’ve been back at Wrexham a while now with the gaffer giving some of the younger lads in the side the chance. We already know some of the lads are leaving, and no-one really knows what’s happening for next season, only the manager, so it is just a case of trying to do what I can to get myself in the picture.”

Meanwhile, Mike Williams is another who is hoping to remain at the Racecourse beyond the summer, and admits he has no plans to move away.

And Wales under-21 defender Williams, who could line up against England aces such as Theo Walcott and Gabriel Agbonlahor in a friendly on Thursday, May 15, does not believe Wrexham’s demotion to the Conference will affect his international career.

“I honestly haven’t thought about that yet,” he said. “All I know is what Brian (Flynn) has said in the papers and that’s the boys from Wrexham won’t be affected by going down.

“But it’s something we haven’t spoken about really and I honestly hadn’t thought about it. I suppose I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

“I am looking forward to playing England at Wrexham. We know it is going to be a tough game, they’ve got a lot of players in the Premier League, but if you look at our squad of players we’ve also got players from the Premier League and the Championship, and we are in really good form recently.

“So it should be a good game, and with the home crowd we are hoping it will give us an advantage.”