Defeat at Hereford marks end of an era

23 April 2008

EIGHTY seven years of proud Football League status for Wrexham FC came to an end last night – and fans immediately called for extra investment to ensure the Reds' hiatus is a brief one.

The slim hopes generated by Saturday's victory over Notts County were cruelly dashed by a promotion-chasing Hereford United.

Supporters' groups and ex-players alike are united in the belief that winning promotion next season will not be easy, and there are calls this morning for more funds to be pumped into the club to compete with the likes of Oxford Utd, Exeter and York in the Blue Square Premier League.

Everyone associated with the club last year vowed that this season would be different, that the club would avoid flirting with relegation at all costs after last season's final game heroics to stay up.

Today club legend Mickey Thomas, famed for his giantkilling FA Cup winning goal against Arsenal in 1992, said it was a very sad day for him.

"It was going to happen whatever happened, it was out of their control," he said.

"It's disappointing of course and what happened last season was a warning, it was a wake up call that they should have addressed and got right.

"Dickens and Moss have got it correct off the pitch but on the pitch is most important. Brian Little coming in hasn't had that much effect on results.

"I'm disappointed. Wrexham gave me a chance to be a professional footballer and this is disappointing, it's a really sad day for me but it was there for everyone to see.

"The worry for me is how can they bounce back? Look at Halifax, Oxford, York and Scarborough, they've all found it difficult to bounce back and that's a concern."

Mickey was full of praise for Wrexham's fans. He said: "They have been fantastic, they've been through really difficult times – the team couldn't have got more from the fans.

"Wrexham have a great fanbase and hopefully they can pick themselves up.

"I think Mark Jones wants to go. Some players will be looking for jobs – a lot will get released and start afresh. We need fighters in that league – it's a physically and psychologically demanding league."

Official Supporters' Association member Dave Davies said: "There's a great disappointment and sadness that we've gone down.

"It's been coming for weeks but when it finally happens the impact hits home."

Asked how he thinks Wrexham can get back into the League, Mr Davies said: "Brian Little has signed a two-year contract so we've got to see who he plans to keep and who he plans to let go and what players he plans to bring in – it's a case of wait and see.

"It depends on the cash situation – are the owners going to inject some cash to buy the players we need to come back up again? Moss and Dickens talked about making us a Championship side and we've gone the other way.

"It's going to be a lot more difficult to come back up than some people have assumed. It's a tough competition, the Blue Square Conference, and the standard is not too different to what we've seen yesterday so it's going to take some hard work and quality to get us back again.

"It's time for the people at the top to deliver because all they've done so far is let us down."

The club's vice president, Dr John Marek, believes they ares still suffering from the Alex Hamilton days.

Dr Marek said: "When the club went into administration, he sold every player he could so when we came out of administration we had a team of players the administrators failed to sell, plus we were deducted 10 points.

"We didn't have rich owners to buy more players, and the trust make a great play of their £300,000 but it wouldn't go very far. Money in football is very badly divided."

Mr Marek believes that to move forward fans have got to keep the faith.

"We've got to bounce back, fans have got to keep the faith. I think they will and I certainly will.

"Although we failed to win two matches on the trot since Christmas, there were over 4,000 people at home matches.

"We've got a good fan base and it stretches to all of North Wales and I suppose the club has let the fans down.

"We need now to provide finances for Brian Little so he can furnish a team where we can keep the good players we've got and build on them so we bounce back for next year."

Lindsay Jones, of Wrexham Supporters Trust, reiterated calls for the club to take £300,000 of fans money in exchange for a stake in the club.

He said: "Looking towards next season it really all does depend on whether the owners are prepared to fund a promotion challenge.

"The trust has £300,000 to spend so that would go a long way towards rebuilding.

"If we were given equity, there would still be majority shareholders but it would give us a toehold.

"Why don't they take it? We don't want to steal the club."