Wrexham

Dragons secure Bayliss and Jones
Luton defender Dave Bayliss, 29, has joined Wrexham on a one-year deal. "He's the sort of player I've been looking for, experienced and tremendous in the dressing room," Wrexham manager Denis Smith told the club's website. "Dave can organise a defence, is not a bad passer of the ball, and is eager for first-team football." Wales Under-21 midfielder Mark Jones has signed a new two-year deal at the Dragons, who are close to finding a new striker following Hector Sam's move. "Things are starting to come together after a very frustrating summer for us," said Smith. "Mark had one or two things to iron out and I'm glad we could come to an agreement with him."

Striker Sam makes switch to Vale
Port Vale have completed the signing of former Wrexham striker Hector Sam on a 12-month deal. The 27-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international joins following the departure of Dave Hibbert to Preston. Assistant boss Dean Glover told Vale's website: "We couldn't have got a better replacement. He is an experienced lad with an old head and an eye for goal. Sam scored 40 goals in 176 appearances for Wrexham almost half of which were from the bench. He joined the Welsh side from a club in Port of Spain in June 2000.

Wrexham sign Hull striker Walters
Hull striker Jonathan Walters has joined Wrexham on a one-year contract. The former Bolton player, 21, joined Hull in February 2004 for £50,000, but has struggled to win a starting place in his time at the Kingston Stadium. "It's the quickest deal I've ever done," Wrexham boss Denis Smith told the Daily Post. "I had a call from an agent at 2.30pm (on Thursday), I got the lad over here for a chat as soon as possible and we've done the deal." Walters was used mainly as a substitute last season by the Championship side and was loaned out to Scunthorpe for a month. He will bolster the Dragons' front-line after Hector Sam signed for Port Vale earlier in the week and free agent Juan Ugartes' expected departure. Wrexham's home friendly with Bristol City on 23 July has been called off on the advice of Avon & Somerset Police.

Walters upbeat on Wrexham future
New Wrexham striker Jonathan Walters says he is not concerned by off the field problems at the club. "My job is on the pitch and if I can do that right it will help the club," Walters, 21, told the Wrexham website. "I talked about the club being in administration with the manager and know people are working on the issues. "I wanted to be nearer my home on the Wirral. The training facilities and ground here are on a par with the Premiership, this is the right choice." Walters, a former Bolton player, joined the Dragons from Hull on a one-year contract.

Striker Jack seeks Wrexham deal
Ex-Oldham striker Rodney Jack has joined up with Wrexham for some pre-season training at the Racecourse. The 32-year-old is an international for the Caribbean island of St Vincent. Jack moved from Torquay United to Crewe Alexandra for £650,000 in 1998, and was with Rushden and Diamonds before joining the Latics last summer. His time at Boundary Park was blighted by injury and he made just 10 league appearances, the last as a reserve against Brentford in October. His contract was due to expire in the summer, but Oldham settled the remainder of it in April. Jack could replace Chris Llewellyn in the Wrexham squad, as the 25-year-old Welsh international front man is expected to join Hartlepool this week. Crewe are thought likely to secure the services of in-demand Wrexham striker Juan Ugarte.

Ugarte completes Crewe transfer
Wrexham's top scorer last season Juan Ugarte has joined Crewe Alexandra on a free transfer. The 24-year-old Spaniard was out of contract at the Racecourse and rejected the offer of a new deal. Ugarte, who came to Wrexham in October and impressed with 22 goals in 38 appearances, has joined Crewe's pre-season training camp in Portugal. Crewe defender Colin Murdock is set to leave the club for Rotherham, though, having turned down a new two-year deal.

Wrexham lose Llewellyn and Morgan
The exodus from the Racecourse has continued, with Wrexham defender Craig Morgan joining MK Dons and striker Chris Llewellyn signing for Hartlepool. They follow top-scorer Juan Ugarte, who signed for Crewe on Monday. Wales Under-21 defender Craig Morgan, 19, joins the Dons on a two-year contract for an undisclosed five-figure transfer fee. The price for Wales striker Llewellyn, 25, is also undisclosed, but he had a year left on his Dragons contract.

Roche signing strengthens Wrexham
Wrexham have signed former Manchester United trainee Lee Roche on a one-year contract. Roche, 24, who was released by Burnley in May, is no stranger to the Racecourse having spent a season on loan with the Welsh side in 2000/01. Roche's capture is a welcome boost, after the departures of Craig Morgan, Chris Llewellyn and Juan Ugarte. Dragons boss Denis Smith has also offered professional terms to trainees Simon Spender and Levi Mackin.

Wrexham recruit striker McEvilly
Wrexham have signed striker Lee McEvilly from Conference side Accrington Stanley. McEvilly, 23, has scored 25 goals in 57 appearances for Accrington since joining them from Rochdale in May 2004. A Northern Ireland cap, McEvilly made his one appearance as a substitute against Spain in 2002 - becoming Rochdale's first full international. The capture of McEvilly comes on top of the arrival of Burnley defender Lee Roche as a free agent.

'No eviction' pledge for Wrexham
The administrators of Wrexham Football Club say owner Alex Hamilton has promised a court not to sell the Racecourse before a legal challenge. They said Mr Hamilton has also given an undertaking not to try to evict the club before the high court hearing in November over the ground's ownership. Wrexham went into administration last December with debts of over £4m. A July deadline to quit had been challenged. Administrators say they still wanted to sell the club in a "consensual" deal. They said Mr Hamilton gave his undertakings at the High Court in London not to dispose of the ground or evict the club ahead of a hearing in Birmingham on 7 November. The joint administrators, David Acland and Steve Williams, from the firm Begbies Traynor, began legal action against Mr Hamilton's company, Crucialmove, last month. They had sought an injunction requiring him not to act against the club before trial in November when they hope the high court will overturn Crucialmove's claim to the ownership of the Racecourse. A possible deal to sell the club to Wrexham car dealer Neville Dickens is said to remain a possibility. Mr Dickens is part of the steering committee formed to guide the club's new season in League Two. In a statement, the administrators said there was no apparent progress in a separate deal Surrey-based property developer Andy Smith had said he was negotiating with Mr Hamilton. The administrators said: "We will continue to explore the possibility of a consensual sale of the club's assets, which remains the prime objective. "In this respect, there have been previous reports that Andrew Smith had entered into an exclusivity deal with Mr Hamilton. "As we have not been provided with any formal details, we are unable to comment as to whether the period has expired or been extended or indeed whether any progress has been made between these two parties. "There has however been no progress from the administrators' perspective." Neither Mr Smith nor Mr Hamilton were available for comment. Last month, the administrators said indemnities to help manager Denis Smith with player contracts were being arranged by the steering committee and possibly by Wrexham Supporters' Trust as well.

Carey rueful at injury retirement
Former Wrexham captain Brian Carey was disappointed to have to end his playing career because of a knee injury. The Irish centre-back, 37, has been sidelined since last October and was out of contract at the Racecourse. "It was difficult, but it was a decision I had to make because symptons returned last week and I was struggling to get up and down stairs," Carey said. "It is sad, but it's time for me to step aside and let some of the younger lads come in and take over." Carey played 303 games for the Dragons, having joined from Leicester for £100,000 in 1996. He started his career at Cork City before securing a transfer to Manchester United, from where he spent two periods on loan at the Racecourse. "I would have like to have carried on for another season at least, but this is part and parcel of football," said Carey, who won three caps for the Republic of Ireland during his career. "My Ireland caps mean an awful lot to me and I've got some great memories with Wrexham as well - particularly the FA Cup victories we've had at the Racecourse over the years. Wrexham manager Denis Smith had hoped to offer Carey a new contract until receiving the latest medical news. Carey hopes to continue in football in a coaching capacity, but the current financial situation at Wrexham, with the club still in administration, means he may have to look elsewhere. Smith is also concerned about a thigh injury to Jim Whitley that has kept the midfielder out since January. Whitley is guaranteed a place in the 20-man squad allowed under administration rules, as he has 12 months left on his Racecourse contract.

Wrexham battle back to halt Bulls
Wrexham fought back from a two-goal deficit to claim a 2-2 draw in their pre-season friendly at Hereford United. New Bulls signing Jon Brady fired home from the edge of the area, then sent in a looping cross that Adam Stansfield converted with a free header. But Wrexham striker Lee McEvilly clawed a goal back just before half-time with a curled 25-yard free-kick. Levi Mackin completed the comeback on 72 minutes when he lobbed a weak punch from Clint Davies back over the keeper.

Smith praise for Wrexham rookie
Wrexham boss Denis Smith praised Levi Mackin for his equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Hereford United - but said it was about time the youngster delivered. The trainee capped a decent display by lobbing Bulls goalkeeper Clint Davies. "Levi was awful at Colwyn Bay so he needed to come on and show something," Smith told the Daily Post. "We wouldn't keep persevering with him if we didn't think he was any good - these games are an opportunity for all the players to get a run-out."

Crowell fit for Wrexham's NI tour
Wrexham midfielder Matt Crowell's knee injury has recovered in time for the pre-season trip to Northern Ireland. The 21-year-old has been struggling with a slight ligament tear. Wrexham have a hectic time in Belfast, facing Newry City on Monday, Crusaders on Wednesday and reigning Northern Ireland champions Glentoran Saturday. Dragons defender Dennis Lawrence's busy summer will continue after he was called up by Trinidad & Tobago for the 17 August World Cup game with the USA

Smith patient as he eyes recruits
Wrexham manager Denis Smith insists he will not be rushed as he looks for a striker and a defender to complete his 20-man squad for the new season. "The transfer window is open until the end of August so there's no way I'm going to rush into anything," Smith told the Daily Post. "Some players will have held out for the best terms they can get, but will now be starting to worry. "There's a lot of them out there so I'm not too concerned."

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