We must put smiles back on fans’ faces, says Keates

DEAN Keates says his players owe it to the fans to put a smile back on their faces, starting with the Easter Monday trip to face their old manager Gary Mills .

Wrexham extended their run without a win to seven on Good Friday as they went down to a 3-1 loss at home to Maidstone United.

The Easter weekend gives them a quick turn-around to BOOTHAM CRES. 3pm YORK CITY v WREXHAM correct their winless run as they travel to Bootham Crescent to take on York City, currently under the leadership of Mills.

Mills was sacked as Wrexham boss in October with Keates replacing him and transforming a squad in the following transfer window to stave off the threat of relegation.

York are still heavily embroiled in a relegation fight despite picking up backto-back wins to move up to 18th place, but are only clear of Braintree Town in the final relegation spot by virtue of goal difference.

Keates has called on his side to get back to winning ways, but admits there is always going to be ‘little bit of spice to it’ given it sees the Dragons up against a former manager.

“We have only picked up two draws in the last eight games and it is not good enough,” said Keates.

“We will take a decent following there on Monday and give the fans a performance that is full of passion and full of pride and all being well we can go there and get something.

(There is) a little bit of spice to it, like I said we will be taking a decent following up there, our lads will owe the fans something and we need to put a smile back on their faces and all being well that will be Monday.

He added: “We need to finish the season with as much optimism as we can going forward.

“I’ve said to the lads ‘you are in the building at the moment and it is how you perform and how you respond to training and do what is asked of you, whether you take the information on board and deliver is whether you will be in the building (next season). If you are not doing that then like I said it makes my job a lot easier.”