Wrexham

Carey helps with Wrexham coaching
Ex-Wrexham captain Brian Carey, having been forced to quit playing by injury, has joined the squad for the trip to N Ireland in a coaching capacity. Jim Whitley (knee injury) is the only professional not in the 18-man party. His place is taken by trainee Mike Williams, who has appeared in all three of the club's pre-season games to date. Wrexham have a hectic time in Belfast, facing Newry City on Monday, Crusaders on Wednesday, and reigning Northern Ireland champions Glentoran Saturday.

Wrexham rescue draw at Newry City
Dean Bennett came to Wrexham's rescue in Monday night's fiercely contested warm-up at Ulster side Newry City. Wrexham's wasted chances looked costly when Damien Whitehead put Newry ahead on 70 minutes with a diving header. But Bennett, an early replacement for striker Lee McEvilly, equalised soon after from Simon Spender's pass. McEvilly, ironically a Northern Ireland cap, had been substituted on 26 minutes at the referee's request following a heated exchange with the official.

Warhurst accepts Wrexham's offer
Paul Warhurst has joined Wrexham on a non-contract agreement. The versatile 36-year-old has been looking to return to League football after a short spell with Conference side Forest Green last season. "There seem to be a good set of players at the club and I was certainly impressed watching the opening home game against Boston United," he said. Wrexham boss Smith added: "We are thin on the ground in several positions and Paul has the credentials to help us."

Better news for Wrexham's Pejic
Wrexham defender Shaun Pejic will be out for around two months after tearing cruciate knee ligaments in Tuesday's 1-0 Carling Cup defeat to Doncaster. It was initially feared he would miss six months, but a scan revealed he is unlikely to need an operation. The 22-year-old suffered the injury in a challenge with Ricky Ravenhill, who was immediately taken off by Rovers. "We'll see on the video, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't the best of challenges," said Wrexham boss Denis Smith. Dean Bennett and Dennis Lawrence are also doubtful for Saturday's League match after picking up injuries. Lawrence pulled a hamstring in the warm-up, while Bennett came off with a groin problem in the closing stages. Matt Crowell, Lee McEvilly, Lee Roche and Jim Whitley were already out injured, with Simon Spender suspended. "I'm not sure who's run over the black cat, but somebody's done something because this is absolutely ridiculous," said Smith after the game, when he felt Pejic would be out for a longer period. "For Dennis Lawrence to break down during the warm-up... he never misses a game. "Shaun Pejic is the major blow. You can talk about going out of the Cup but we've lost a very important player who's been having a superb season." He added: "I don't think we deserved to get beat but in the end we've got to stick the ball in the net and keep it out at. "But considering what had gone on, the fact that we had to change everything 10 minutes before kick-off, I mean Andy Hole didn't have a clue he was going to be playing centre back until five minutes before he went out. "So it's a good performance against a team from a higher division. "But we got beat 1-0 again and that's what people will see." Smith said he would be looking to bring in players on loan to ease the injury crisis - providing he gets permission from the Football League. Wrexham, who have gone four games without a goal, are still constrained by the League's rules governing clubs in administration.

Wrexham postpone tie at Lincoln
A series of international call-ups mean Wrexham have postponed Friday's planned League Two game at Lincoln. Midfielder Levi Mackin has been called into the Wales Under-21 squad to face England at the Racecourse Friday, along with Liverpool trainee Ramon Calliste. They join Mark Jones, while Mike Ingham is with Northern Ireland and Dennis Lawrence with Trinidad and Tobago. Wrexham captain Darren Ferguson says Jones can be an inspiration to the Dragons' threadbare squad. Midfielder Jones, called into the senior Wales squad against Slovenia, scored in an impressive Wrexham display in the 3-1 win over Barnet. "With so many injuries and suspensions, the young lads have to stand up and be counted," Ferguson told Sir Stanley. "Mark is a good example to them. He's really showing his quality in the last third of the field and is learning all the time, he's got a good chance of making it in this game." Ferguson's praise was echoed by Wrexham manager Denis Smith. "Mark's going to be a hell of a talent, I'm expecting him to score goals every time he steps on the pitch," said Smith. "He goes past people, commits them, is good on the ball and is getting better very quickly. "I've watched his development for the last three-and-a-half years. He was small and quiet, but now he's filling out and growing into a man. "Being with Wales has helped, mixing with better players always improves you. "It might sound like I'm trying to sell him, but that's absolutely the last thing I want to happen!"

Smith is hurt by Wrexham defeat
Wrexham manager Denis Smith was left to painfully admit his side deserved nothing from their trip to Lincoln. A disappointed Smith said: "It hurts, I don't like to be defeated, the better team won and we never really looked like winning. "The better team won. They did extremely well and we were never in the game, and our away form is something we've got to look at. "Once they got a goal in front we never looked like getting back into it."

Smith angered by Dragons drubbing
Manager Denis Smith was furious at the poor defending after Wrexham lost 4-1 at Wycombe on Tuesday night. "We'd only let nine goals in before Wycombe; we could have let nine in last night the way we defended," he said. "There was some appalling defending that made it extremely easy for them, we should have done much better. "I don't normally lose my temper but I did at half-time and again at the end - unfortunately we were in an extremely generous mood."

Wrexham's injury problems easing
Wrexham's injury problems have begun to ease with the news that striker Lee McEvilly and midfielder Matt Crowell are close to a first-team return. The pair will play for the reserves in Wednesday night's League Cup match against Rochdale at Buckley. Crowell is coming back to fitness after a persistent knee injury, while McEvilly has had ankle surgery. Defender Lee Roche will also return to training this week following an operation on a troublesome hernia.

Wrexham get League survival boost
Wrexham may not be thrown out of the Football League even if they fail to come out of administration by June. Under League rules, a club will be expelled if it has been in administration for 18 months or more. Wrexham still face months of doubt after owner Alex Hamilton won the right to appeal against a High Court ruling that stripped him of the Racecourse. A Football League spokesman told Sir Stanley that they have not yet taken a firm stance on Wrexham's predicament. "Allowing for the circumstances, if the situation were to arise that Wrexham were still in administration the Football League would look at the issue then," said Dennis Signy. The administrators running Wrexham need ownership of the ground from Hamilton in order to sell the club as a going concern and so safeguard its future. Property developer Hamilton took over from his former business associate Mark Guterman as chairman of Wrexham in 2004. It's only right and proper that the Football League should try to do everything in their power to help Wrexham Supporters' Trust member Spencer Harris By the end of the year, the club had gone into administration with debts of more than £4m, and in May 2005 was relegated to League Two following an automatic 10-point penalty imposed by the Football League. Administrators then began a High Court case to seize the Racecourse from Hamilton. The court hearing in Birmingham was told that his company, CrucialMove, had negotiated to buy the Racecourse with plans to develop the site for housing or commercial use. But, Judge Alistair Norris QC decided that CrucialMove should not have bought the freehold of the stadium. Spencer Harris of the Wrexham Supporters Trust said the Football League's possible lifeline is an early Christmas present for the fans. "After the judgement from Judge Norris about what Mark Guterman and Alex Hamilton were doing to the club, I think it's only right and proper that the Football League should try to do everything in their power to help one of their members to keep going," Harris told Sir Stanley. "I believe eventually we will win this court case. It's really been a nightmare for Wrexham supporters. This situation has been in the background for two years and people are very tired of continually fighting to save this club. "But nothing will get in the way of Wrexham fans making sure what is right and proper happens, and the club goes from strength to strength.

Carey unhappy with Orient goals
Wrexham coach Brian Carey felt both Leyton Orient goals should not have stood in their 2-1 defeat on Saturday. "The lads are adamant the first goal was offside and the referee has seen something we didn't to give them a penalty for the second," said Carey. "At the other end, Jon Walters was blatantly pushed in the back but we didn't get a penalty. "But I don't want to make excuses - we weren't fluent enough and that's something we've got to look at."

Smith annoyed by Moss Rose freeze
Wrexham manager Denis Smith was left deeply frustrated after Saturday's League Two match at Macclesfield was postponed because of a frozen pitch. He said: "The lads were fired up after last weekend's result so we're devastated really that the game is off. "We're already a couple of games behind as it is. We're only down the road from Macclesfield and we hadn't set off so we came in to train. "But it's frustrating not to play after having two or three days preparing." Wrexham will now be fresh for Tuesday's home game against league strugglers Rushden and Diamonds. Smith added: "We'll be fired up for that. We played tremendously well in our last home game and we want to go on a run now."

Wrexham extend Williams loan deal
League Two side Wrexham are set to extend the loan of Aston Villa striker Sam Williams for a second month. Williams, 18, has scored once in his first two appearances for the Dragons, pleasing manager Denis Smith. "I have had a chat with the people at Villa and they are happy for him to stay with us for another four weeks," Smith told Wrexham's website. "He has settled in well and I'd like to think that he is now getting used to the standard of play in this division."

Ferguson up for disciplinary case
Wrexham club captain Darren Ferguson faces a Football Association of Wales disciplinary hearing this week. He has been charged with the use of foul and abusive language against referee Jonathan Moss after his side's 2-1 loss to Leyton Orient last month. The incident was reported by Moss to the FAW after the game. Midfielder Ferguson, who has been out of action with a groin injury since, has not requested a personal hearing but faces a possible ban and fine. Meanwhile, Dragons manager Denis Smith was left frustrated after his side drew 2-2 at Mansfield, having held a 2-0 lead. "We defended well overall, but had a bad few minutes," Smith told Sir Stanley Wales. "It's not our away performances but our results that are costing us. "The penalty changed the game, their lad was going nowhere when he was brought down. "That got the home crowd going, but it was disappointing to throw it away like that. "The lads looked tired after midweek and you have to remember how many youngsters we have in the team, but you don't expect to throw it away like that. "We're still unbeaten this month, though, and after another two goals for Matt Derbyshire it looks like I've got another goal-scorer."

Derbyshire extends Wrexham loan
Wrexham have extended the loan of teenage Blackburn Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire for another month. The 19-year-old has already hit five goals since arriving last month and will now stay until at least 14 April. "(Rovers boss) Mark Hughes has been following his progress, but Matt also enjoys being with us," Wrexham boss Denis Smith told the club's website. "In fact, he returns to Ewood Park for training on a Monday and they are happy with his progress with us." Derbyshire netted twice on his debut for the Dragons, a 2-0 win over Rushden & Diamonds, and has added a real threat to their attack. "I've really enjoyed being part of the team here," Derbyshire said. "Everyone has made me feel welcome and the goals have certainly helped me settle in. "It's great playing on a regular basis and to be part of a good footballing side."

Wrexham 0-0 Bury
Bury's fight against relegation received a boost with a deserved draw at the Racecourse. In a drab first half, Bury's on-loan keeper Kasper Schmeichel, appeared to bring down Wrexham's Matt Derbyshire. But referee Mick Fletcher waved away penalty appeals and showed Derbyshire a yellow card for diving. Bury had the better second half, Danny Williams clearing off the line from Tom Youngs and Dwayne Mattis firing over, while Williams went close himself. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wrexham: Ingham, Pejic, Danny Williams, Lawrence, Bennett, Crowell (Done 79), Whitley (Mackin 56), Mark Jones, Holt, Derbyshire, Sam Williams. Subs Not Used: Michael Jones, Marc Williams, Mike Williams. Booked: Derbyshire, Holt. Bury: Schmeichel, Scott, Challinor, Fitzgerald, Woodthorpe, Flitcroft (Adams 81), Mattis, Barry-Murphy, Buchanan, Marrison, Youngs (Speight 79). Subs Not Used: Brass, Tipton, Grundy. Booked: Woodthorpe, Challinor, Fitzgerald. Att: 4,134 Ref: M Fletcher (Worcestershire).

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