It is going to be game of cat and mouse says boss Brian

By Mark Currie, Daily Post

08 May 2008

WREXHAM boss Brian Little yesterday described the transfer market like a game of ‘cat and mouse’ as he looks to bring in the right players.

Little, who on Tuesday released eight players and offered contracts to only two (Matty Done and Carl Tremarco), is busy working to ensure the right kind of player comes into Wrexham as they bid to bounce back from relegation out of the Football League.

“Over the last few weeks we have contacted agents for details of their clients who are out of contract and we are following up on them,” said Little.

“In terms of the facilities we have here Wrexham is an attractive club, but the downside is that the stigma of losing our Football League status may deter some players.

“It’s the simplest thing in the world to sign players, but we want to bring in the right people and it may well be that we’ll have to wait until the last minute for that to happen.

“We start back in training on June 27 and I’ll be very surprised if we have the full squad we want by that date. It could well be the case that we’ll be seeing triallists and staging practice matches for them during that pre-season spell.”

And Little hinted that he did not want to fully commit himself because of the relatively new loan market that has sprung up in recent years.

“A couple of weeks into July there will be clubs willing to let players go out on loan for the whole season and we have to be aware of the possibilities that might present themselves,” he said.

The Dragons boss confirmed that there were no plans for a pre-season tour. Instead he is arranging a series of friendly matches against a mix of Football League and non-league sides, some of which will take place behind closed doors and others at the Racecourse.

And Little also admitted it was necessary to allow so many players to leave the club as they face the battle back into the League.

“We’ve done a lot of work looking at the Blue Square Premier, and the top six teams there are way better than we are at this point,” he said.

“That is what instigated the major changes at this club (with a major squad revamp), we would not have been competitive next season otherwise.

Neil Roberts, Chris Llewellyn, Danny Williams, Mike Carvill, Alex Darlington, Jamie Reed and Mike Jones will not be offered new deals, while Steve Evans will find out his fate later today.

And Little admitted it was a brave decision for him to be so ruthless.

“In a relegation battle you get very close to the players, but after that someone has to be brave enough to help the team rebuild and to bring in a new group of players with no fears for the future,” said Little.

“It’s not a nice or an easy thing to do, everyone should understand that. I hope we’ve gone as low as we can possibly go.

“There are a lot of league players coming out of contract who will be interested in coming to Wrexham.”

Meanwhile, Wrexham captain Roberts was finding it hard to hide his disappointment after being released from his boyhood club.

Roberts, who along with Llewellyn and Danny Williams, were the high profile names to be released, admitted it had come as a huge shock.

“It has come as a massive shock and a big blow,” said Roberts. “When you are club captain, and have played the most games this season than I have in any season, barring a couple of bad performances I feel I have done all right.

“I am really gutted. It is a club close to my heart, for obvious reasons, and it will always be that way.

“I am upset but I wish the club and the fans all the best for the future. I am sure they will bounce back from relegation and I genuinely hope they do.”

Roberts added: “It is all about opinion – and this is just one person’s opinion. If he feels it can benefit the club that’s his decision but he lives by his decisions.”