Williams hopes goal helps save Wrexham
By Rob Griffiths, Daily Post
27 March 2008
EIFION
WILLIAMS is hoping his solitary contribution to Wrexham’s goalscoring chart this
season will aid their bid for safety – as it was his last in the club colours.
Williams, 32, scored the only goal in the Dragon’s 1-0 win over Bury at Gigg
Lane in December, but immediately pulled up with a hamstring strain that has
seen him sidelined since.
The Bangor-born striker has been battling to recover from the blow, but after
four months on the injury table has finally decided to hang up his boots and
retire from the game.
"I’m glad that I scored for Wrexham," said Williams. "And I really hope that the
goal and the three points help Wrexham stay up. But I knew as soon as I’d scored
the goal that something was wrong with my hamstring."
And Williams also believes his decision to retire is in the best interests of
the club as well as his family, who stayed in Hartlepool.
"I have had a chat with Brian Little and we agreed it was best for both parties
that we go our separate ways," he said.
"I have picked up one or two injuries this season and things haven’t quite gone
to plan.
"It is though one of those decisions where I have put the family first and the
travelling has not helped.
"The injury has taken longer to heal than I thought, although it will come
right. But with travelling three hours a day from Anglesey it’s not helping."
Williams began his career with Caernarfon Town, before moving to the then
dominant force in the Welsh Premier, Barry Town, in 1998.
After less than a season at Jenner Park he earned a move for £70,000 in 1999 to
Torquay United, where he scored 24 goals in 94 appearances. In 2002 he was
signed for £30,000 by Hartlepool where he enjoyed even more success in front of
goal, bagging 56 strikes in 199 appearances for the Teesside outfit.
He also played at the Millennium Stadium in a play-off game for Hartlepool.
But Williams, who joined the Dragons in the summer on a free transfer, is
adamant he will not be returning to the Football League, although he may
contemplate non-league football when he returns to the north east to be with his
family.
"I won’t be returning to League football," he said.
"Indeed, I’m looking to get a job outside of the game and by returning to the
north east I feel I know more people up there and have a better chance of
finding work.
"My family said they liked Hartlepool, having lived there for five years, so it
is one of those decisions where the kids are happy in school and it’s right for
them."
Williams admitted it was a tough decision to make, but agreed it was also in the
best interests of the club.
"I’m 33 this year and it just didn’t feel right sitting here, picking up my
money and not contributing to the team," he added.
"I did say that to the manager and would much prefer that we could come to an
agreement. I would much rather be like that and the club has seen my point of
view."
Manager Little admitted it was a shame to see Williams forced to retire from the
game, but added he fully understood his decision.
Little said: "We have spoken for the last couple of weeks and we have tried to
help him, but we can see his point of view and there’s not a lot we can do to
change his mind.
"It came as a bit of a surprise at the time, but we have since been working to
help him on his way. Now we wish him all the best with whatever he is looking to
do with the rest of his life.
"We have spoken for the last couple of weeks and I’ve been saying to him ‘are
you sure this is what you want to do?’ and he feels it is in the best interests
of himself and his family. We just wish him all the best.
"He was a nice lad and very popular at the club and it is a shame to see him
going, but like I said I can see his point of view."
Meanwhile, the Dragons manager refused to rule out the possibility of bringing
in a new face between now and this afternoon’s 5pm loan deadline.
"We are obviously – like everyone else – working hard and speaking to people to
see if we can bring anyone in," said Little.