Wrexham Evening Leader

Two dozen the target

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

30 April 2008

Brian LittleBRIAN LITTLE is hoping to compile a squad of 24 players ahead of Wrexham's first season outside the Football League.

Wrexham boss Little is making wholesale changes to the playing staff after the Reds were relegated to the Blue Square Premier League.

Four players have already been released, while more out of contract players could also be shown the door when Little announces the rest of his retained list once the season is completed at Lincoln City on Saturday.

Furthermore, five players under contract have been made available for transfer and five loan signings have been told there is no future for them at The Racecourse.

Looking to add significantly to the squad, Little admits the optimum number of professionals going into the new season would be around 24 and work is already underway in the quest to bring in new signings.

"You never know how quickly things will happen," said Little today.

"You could have a few new signings in the first two weeks or could still looking in the last two weeks in June.

"But I am already very active in bringing players in.
"In an ideal situation I would have a squad of 24 players.

"We have got 11 under contract and another five on the transfer list, and there are players out of contract that I would like to keep.

"But I am looking at a hefty turnaround. I will change as much as I can and will work even harder to bring players in."

Little is close to finalising Wrexham's pre-season programme and a number of friendlies, which have been arranged, just need to be rubber stamped.

But having seen previous managers Brian Carey and Denis Smith take their squad to Northern Ireland the last three pre-seasons, Little said a short break away is unlikely to happen.

"We have been very busy planning our pre-season schedule and just need to finalise it," added Little.

"We have got five or six games provisionally sorted at the moment. That side is well under way.

"At the moment it looks like we will be doing our work around here rather than going away.

"If you have got 24 players in a squad, you can only really take 16 to 18 away and I would prefer to keep everyone together.

"We will have training days at Colliers Park - or go to another club - where we can play a variation of games such as three 30 minute matches.

"Those sort of days behind closed door against other clubs are popular in pre-season."