Wrexham FC must bounce back - Gary Bennett

By Carl Butler, Daily Post

14 April 2008

THIS summer will be the most important in Wrexham’s history, according to goal-scoring Wrexham legend Gary Bennett.

With it now looking inevitable Wrexham will go down, the 45-year-old former player, who still attends every home game, believes it will be essential the club “bounces back” as soon as possible.

And he believes manager Brian Little is the man to do it.

“Hopefully Brian Little will still be in charge. He knows the club, he knows the players and I would like to see him bring some stability,” said Gary.

“The Wrexham stadium and the club’s potential, they are too big a club to be in the Blue Square (Conference) league. But you get what you deserve and the league tables don’t lie. It’s very important everyone sticks together and gets behind the club.

“The fans are going to have to swallow a very bitter pill, it’s hard to take for any club.

“I think Wrexham FC has a big place in the town. I do know Wrexham fans and in the short term they will get behind the team.

“But I cannot stress how important it is to get off to a good start because the fans will stay with them and come through the turnstiles.

“It’s so important that when you get the parachute payment from the league that you bounce straight back.”

Gary, affectionately nicknamed “psycho” by the fans for his no-nonsense play, cites the example of Oxford as a warning for Wrexham.

“They’re a big club, big ground, and they cannot get back into the league. They are probably about mid-table in the Blue Square and they get crowds of about 5,000.

“If Wrexham are mid-table they won’t get 5,000, but if they were in the top three they will get more than 5,000. The fans have had it up to here with off and on the pitch events. It’s been very disappointing over the last two or three years for Wrexham fans.

“It’s important right from the top, from the chairman down that everyone puts things in place for us to bounce back.”

Gary Bennett played for Wigan Athletic, Chester City, Southend United, Tranmere Rovers and Preston North End, apart from Wrexham. It was Wrexham where he was most prolific as a goal scorer, 77 goals in 121 appearances. He retired from the game in 1999.