Dragons to sweat on Evans decision

By Gareth Bicknell, Daily Post

09 May 2008

BRIAN LITTLE said he hoped Steve Evans would stay at Wrexham, hailing him as the “perfect” player for the fight to get back into the Football League.

Evans will decide over the next seven days whether he wants to stay at the Racecourse, after he and manager Little had talks yesterday over the player’s future.

The Wales defender will meet Little again next Thursday, when a decision will be made on whether Evans is offered a new contract or is freed to move on.

Little said he hoped 29-year-old Evans would remain a Wrexham player, although he conceded he might lose the 6ft 5ins centre-back after the Dragons were relegated from the Football League for the first time in their 87-year history.

“Going down a division it’s a different type of game,” said the Wrexham boss. “Steve is the type of player who is physical and would be perfect for that league – but if he chooses to join another club at a higher level then we’ll have to find another player of that ilk.”

Evans, whose current contract ends this summer, admitted he would have to discuss the situation with his family, saying: “We’ve had a chat and I’ve got to sit down with my family and go back and chat to him (Little) again. I’m giving it a week so I can work it out with the missus.”

Little said both the club and Evans were keen to make a decision quickly, adding: “The most important thing is to try and resolve the situation early.

“His representatives have said to us they’re very keen to make a decision quickly, so we’ll meet again in seven days’ time and make a decision there.”

Little added: “We’ve given him an indication that we’d like him to stay, but the reason for doing it this way is he’s currently in the Wales squad on most occasions and there’s a strong chance someone in the Football League would be prepared to finance a bigger deal than we’d be able to offer him.

“Steve loves the club and he doesn’t want to see a situation where we put offers to him in writing and he hangs on for a couple of months and we don’t know if he’s going to stay. He will make a decision quickly and I think he deserves some credit for that.”

Evans joined Wrexham from Welsh Premier club TNS in June 2006, making his international bow five months later.