SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR DRAGONS!
Keates predicts a box office finale
DEAN Keates is urging his Wrexham players to have more self belief and recognise they are a good team ahead of a crucial run of fixtures.
The Dragons are firmly in the play-off mix with 12 games to play and are one of the form sides over the last ten matches.
In fact, before yesterday’s clash with promotion rivals Bromley, Wrexham had lost just once in 13 to set them up for a pivotal two weeks with matches against Notts County, Torquay United, Stockport County and FC Halifax Town.
With the high-profile takeover of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed and a generous player bonus scheme installed for each win that keeps the club in a play-off position, Wrexham are well-placed for a repeat top-seven finish when Keates took them there in 2019.
“The announcement’s been made, things have settled down and progress has been made off the pitch,” Keates told The NLP. “On the pitch, we’re in a good place we’ve created some momentum and need to prolong it until the end of the season.
Cohesion
“It’s always been a process and I’ve always believed in it which goes beyond the course of the season.
“Sometimes it works and it happens overnight but nine times out of ten it does take a new group time to gel, get that cohesion together and get used to playing with each other.”
Keates had an overhaul of the squad last summer following their disappointing 19th-placed finish and the team is now younger, tighter and has a gritty determination to get results.
They enjoy playing under their leader and rushed to his rescue last weekend as he was confronted by the Eastleigh bench in a touchline scuffle.
“They’re giving absolutely everything, they’re showing everything the town, the community is about,” said Keates. “Wrexham people are honest and hard-working and show pride and passion in the football club, and the players are showing that. When we went down to ten men against Eastleigh, the work rate they put in, the basics of the game, on another day we could have converted 2-1 down to 3-2. We had a stonewall penalty that we didn’t get.
“One thing I drive into players is have more self-belief, go out there and know that we’re a good team and play like it. Sometimes we are a little bit cautious and it takes time to get going.” It was eight years ago on Wednesday that Keates captained Wrexham to FA Trophy success at Wembley over Grimsby Town – and then walked out again in the play-off final against Newport County weeks later. “We set the objectives down as group before the season, it wasn’t a case of me sitting down and saying what we wanted to do,” he added.
“Players took responsibility and accountability as a group, what we’re going to adhere to and turn up each day to represent this club. It’s created standards and its coming to fruition now.
“It was a great day for me personally to lead a team out at Wembley and up the stairs. I remember we were preparing down in London and we were getting sent pictures of fans having to dig themselves out of snow in Wrexham to get to the game.
“We weren’t surprised they managed to do it, it shows you what the people of Wrexham are about.
“Three weeks later we were there in the play-offs. Our objective is to do the same thing and get some success this season.”