Clear The Air

Fustration
By wrecsam am byth
January 13 2004

Wrexham today set new horizons following clear-the-air talks between management and players. Denis Smith had all the players in for talks after Saturdays dissapointment.

Smith said to the Evening Leader: “Certain players held their hands up and admitted they had bad games, but the purpose was more to try and find the reasons for that. It wasn’t a heads-on-block meeting. I was more concerned with establishing why good, quality players played so badly.”

Wrexham’s poor performance angered Smith and his assistant, Kevin Russell - but both still believe they can be in the first division next season. “I’ve planned out what we should be doing over the next three months - and what we can achieve,” said Smith. “I don’t care what people say, I believe we still have got a chance of going up into the first division and that’s where I want to take this club. “I’ve told the players that over the next three months they can achieve a lifetime’s ambition. But if we do go up they’ll find it a lot different to playing in the second division.” Smith, however, genuinely believes Wrexham can make it to the first division.

He added: “But they’ve got to really apply themselves on match days. No player can afford to be ill on match days. I know there was one player, who played at Chesterfield, who didn’t really feel up to playing. If they’re not 100 percent I want them to tell me and then I have to make the decision for them. That’s my job. That’s what I’m here for.

“Our job is winning football matches whenever and wherever we play. Word war three doesn’t come into it because we can’t afford to let any outside influence come into play here. Now Christmas has come and gone, we are on the homeward run. Results from here on in will determine whether we are good enough to get up there and challenge for a place in the first division.

“The way we played at Chesterfield is best forgotten because we certainly won’t get up there playing like that. But what we now need is a good home win here on Saturday - and we’re right back in it.”