Football Season Guide

Wrexham

In


Tyler Harvey (mid), Plymouth), Kai Edwards (def), The New Saints), Paul Rutherford (mid), Southport), John Rooney (mid), Chester), Shwan Jalal (gk), Macclesfield), Chris Dunn (gk), Cambridge), Hamza Bencherif (def), Halifax), Anthony Barry (mid), Accrington Stanley), Michael Bakare (att), Welling), Kleiron Wolland (gk), Colwyn Bay), Jordan White (att), Livingston), Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls (att), Birmingham), Martin Riley (def), Tranmere), Nortei Nortey (def), Welling), Shaun Harrad (att), Torquay), Jordan Evans (def), Fulham)

Out


Adriano Moké (sp)(miid), Boreham Wood), Javan Vidal (sp)(def), Guiseley), Jonathan Royle (sp)(mid), Southport), Lee Fowler (r)(mid), Telford), Blaine Hudson (r)(def), Chester), Wes York (r)(att), Gateshead), James Gray (sp)(att), Southport), Manny Smith (r)(def), Gateshead), Cameron Belford (sp)(gk), Stranraer), Simon Heslop (r)(mid), York City), Ross White (sp)(def), Southport), Louis Briscoe (sp)(mid), Tamworth), Jamal Fyfield (r)(def), Gateshead), Connor Jennings (k)(att), Tranmere), Kayden Jackson (r)(att), Barnsley), Rhys Taylor (r)(gk), Newport County - end of loan)

It is all change for Wrexham as Gary Mills embarks on another bid to get the Welsh club back into the Football League after a rather long exile. They went close last season but were just not tough enough in the crunch moments and had to console themselves with a place outside the top five. Mills voiced his utter determination to do better this season and has not been afraid to cull the squad and go for a complete facelift. It will be nearly a completely different starting 11 from last season, with the exception of a couple pf players. The Dragons saw their best player last season, Connor Jennings, make the short trip to Merseyside and sign for direct promotion rivals Tranmere, in a move that must have surely left Mills sore. Manny Smith, Simon Helsop and Kayden Jackson, who earned a stint at the Championship with Barnsley, are also significant losses who will be tough to place. Yet Wrexham have signed some interesting players and the material is there for a good squad to emerge. Anthony Barry is a fine midfield general and participated in a promotion campaign at League Two last season. John Rooney is a fine player when on form as well while Hamza Bencherif and Martin Riley will bring toughness and drive into the team along with flexibility at the back and in midfield. The attacking options do look lightweight in comparison, however, but the hopes are that Scott Jordan White proves a hit after netting ten goals for Livingston last year. Shaun Harrad is the other new attacker signed but while he does have experience, his displays in the past couple of seasons suggest a player firmly on the wane. The rest of the players expected to play in attack just do not look ready for a step-up and a battle at the top end of the season. That what makes Wrexham somewhat vulnerable and unlikely to be among the pace setters.

Target


There is enough midfield dynamism and defensive quality in the side but the relative lack of flair and attacking options means that Wrexham are most likely to be around the 10th place this season.