I’ve been given second chance says Brian Little

By Mark Currie, Daily Post

15 April 2008

WREXHAM manager Brian Little yesterday described his new two-year Racecourse contract as a second chance – and admitted he does not expect to be given a third.

With relegation from the Football League all but mathematically confirmed following Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town, Little said his imminent failure to keep the Dragons in League Two had dented both his pride and his reputation.

And as he embarks on a wholesale cull of the playing staff over the next few weeks, he vowed to do everything possible to develop a winning side next season.

“It’s time to make changes, and if it’s not me making them it would have been somebody else,” he said. “I’m lucky to have been given a second chance, even though it was a difficult task, and I probably won’t be given a third. So I know how important it is to get it right this summer.

“It’s not over yet, but it looks as though we have not been able to turn the team’s fortunes around. We need to win our last four games for any hope of staying up and, on the evidence of Sunday’s game, that is not going to happen.

“I accept that as a criticism of me but now the job is to rebuild the playing side of things. I have as good a record as most (as a manager), but it has been a hard slog.

“The two or three weeks since the game at Brentford, in a spell of matches where we needed some results, have been the most disappointing and frustrating period in a career of 34 years, which shows how bad it has been.”

Little revealed he had already begun the task of talking to those players who won’t figure in his plans next season, but declined to name names at this stage.

“It’s not for public consumption just yet, but it would be foolish to deny that the process has already started,” he added. “Now I know I will be here next season there is a great deal of work to be done with the staff in terms of preparation for whatever lies ahead.

“The process of drawing up budgets for next year is under way and needs to be agreed as quickly as possible so that I know where I stand in terms of player numbers.

“Some of those here are under contract and some are out of contract so there is plenty going on behind the scenes.

“I’m saying nothing at the moment and it’s up to the individuals involved if they want to go public, but I can confirm with some degree of certainty that I definitely want a fair percentage of new faces in the dressing room next season.

“I have a period of time between May 4 and the beginning of August to make the changes that I feel are needed around the club.”

Striker Marc Williams hopes he has a future at the club – but he admitted he was left frustrated by Sunday’s defeat.

“It’s disappointing,” said the Wales under-21 forward.

“Defeat would have been hard to take anyway, but it’s especially painful, what with it being a derby as well and us losing 3-0.

“We’ve got four games left and I think everyone at the club knows now that it’s stacked against us and it’s going to be very tough, but we want to give the fans something back.

“Personally it’s been nice to get in the team, but obviously I wish I’d been able to play my part in helping us to get a few wins.”

“It hasn’t turned out that way, of course, but I enjoy playing under Brian Little and hopefully that continues,” he added.

Wrexham reserves face cross-border rivals Chester City tomorrow at Buckley Town’s Globe Way (7pm).