Smith would liked to have saved Wrexham

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

24 April 2008

DENIS SMITH today spoke from the heart about how he wished he had still been at Wrexham to help save the club from going out of the Football League.

Smith, who still lives in the town, was sacked as manager in January 2007 after more than five years in The Racecourse hotseat.

First-team coach Brian Carey took over the reins, but after helping Wrexham avoid relegation last term with a final day victory against Boston United, he was replaced by Brian Little in November 2008 following a poor start to the campaign.

However, Little has been unable to turn things around and Wrexham's 87-year unbroken membership of the Football League came to an end on Tuesday when the Reds were beaten 2-0 by Hereford United at Edgar Street.

Disappointed not to have been given more time to improve Wrexham's fortunes, Smith said he would have been disappointed not to have secured a play-off berth if given the same financial backing by the Reds' board as his two predecessors.

"I would have loved to still be there, but the new board wanted to do things their own way, which they are entitled to," said Smith today.

"But if I had had the financial investment and ability to bring in so many players, I would have been disappointed not to have made the play-offs – but they were never going to do that with me.

"But that's me, and I suppose I am not going to say anything different.

"There are no hard feelings though."

Smith, used to operating on a shoestring budget after Wrexham spent 20 months in administration during his reign, was at a loss to explain why things have gone wrong on the pitch since the club's future was secured.

But he stressed that Wrexham have been relegated for a reason.

"You look at it and ask what has gone wrong?" said Smith. "The ground is fantastic and the training ground facilities excellent.

"You can't say the investment has not been there. About 39 players have been used this season – I had 20.

"It is just the off-the field part of it that has gone wrong and it a major disappointment to go down.

"Other teams deserve to go out rather than Wrexham. How are they staying up with what they have got, and Wrexham going down with what they have got?

"It is a major blow for Welsh football. But Wrexham can't complain about going down because they only just got out last year because of Boston and they have been down the bottom all season so it is not a surprise."

When Smith was told he was surplus to requirements on January 11 last year, assistant manager, Kevin Russell, was also shown the door.

Russell took over the same role at Peterborough who, later that month, unveiled former Wrexham midfielder Darren Ferguson – overlooked as successor to Smith – as their new manager.

And Smith said that Wrexham had made a mistake in not giving him longer – but said it was an ever bigger error to allow Russell to leave.

"It was definite a mistake to let me go but an even bigger mistake to let Rooster go," said Smith. "I spoke to Darren at the weekend and he said Rooster is his best signing!

"It was a huge mistake not to give Brian Carey Rooster's support and knowledge of what he learned in five years with me.

"And Rooster is also a very good coach. I rate him that highly that I would say he is one of the best young coaches in the country.

"As well as being a first class right hand man, Rooster is also a bubbly character and the players take to him."

Despite still believing he was dismissed too soon by the Wrexham board, Smith holds no grudges and spoke of the major disappointment at seeing their hopes of staying up finally disappear at Hereford on Tuesday and admitted it was the supporters he particularly felt sorry for.

"To say I am disappointed is a massive understatement," said Smith. "People may think that I would be happy but I am not. This is the last thing I wanted.

"There is no satisfaction whatsoever. I was hoping and praying Wrexham would stay up.

"It is the fans that I feel sorry for. They fought like mad to keep the club going and I feel for them to be going out of the Football League.

"It will be disappointing to everyone concerned with the club."

Smith, who has not worked in the management profession since leaving Wrexham, has watched games in the Blue Square Premier this season.

A legend at Stoke City where he spent his entire playing career, Smith has also managed Oxford United and York City who have both struggled to win promotion after losing their Football League status.

But on the other hand, Smith said Wrexham can hope to emulate the efforts of Hereford United, who took nine years to reclaim their league status but are on the verge of promotion to League One.

"I hope they bounce back and I wish everyone well," added Smith. "But I know how hard it can be.

"To get out of any division is tremendously difficult and I have watched games this season in the Blue Square Premier Division.

"Oxford, who have been getting 8,000 gates this season, and York are two big clubs both in mid-table.

"It is not easy. People think you can walk over people but they will get a major surprise.

"There are some well organised clubs down there, particularly in the south.

"If Wrexham can consolidate next season, they are going to come back stronger.

"Look at Hereford. If Hereford get automatic promotion, Graham should be named the League Two manager of the season for what he has done this season."