CAREY: WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD... NOT SELL OUR STARS
Mark Currie - Daily Post

WREXHAM manager Brian Carey yesterday revealed that he has not received any inquiries from other clubs about his players as the majority of his squad reported back for the start of pre-season training.

The earlier than usual return meant that six players - Lee McEvilly, Levi Mackin, Matty Done, Josh Johnson, Richard Hope and Juan Ugarte - were missing from a half-day session that was, out of necessity, curtailed by the torrential rain.

But the boss insisted that nothing should be read into the fact that members of his squad were absent, saying he was not at all concerned.

"The fact that six of the lads aren't here doesn't bother me at all," he said. "With what was happening here towards the end of last season, we could not really plan ahead as much as we otherwise would.

"Some of the players made their holiday arrangements, so it's not a problem because they will all be back in Monday morning when we begin in earnest.

"As far as the others are concerned we've brought them in today to see where everyone is in terms of fitness and they will be working on Wednesday and Friday as well.

"The three days give us a chance to do some testing and put in some spadework and it's fair to say that they all look in decent condition."

Carey, who is hoping to further strengthen his squad in the coming weeks, said he was aware of transfer rumours concerning some of his own players and admitted he would give consideration to any offers.

But he added: "There have been no concrete moves in my direction and if there were the players concerned would be the first to know.

"(Previous manager) Denis Smith was always open and honest with players if clubs had been in touch and if we do have any inquiries we will employ the same policy.

"In terms of bringing in people we are still looking at a couple of things, but we don't want to dive into the market for the sake of it.

"We have been pleased with what we have achieved so far and there is still plenty of time before the season gets under way.

"Things began to pick up again towards the end of last week and that could accelerate in the next few days when players are out of contract at the end of the month and become a bit more anxious about getting themselves fixed up."

Dragons defender Shaun Pejic last week became the ninth and final member of last season's squad to accept the new deal he was offered, while Carey has also brought in Hope, Anthony Williams, Michael Proctor, Eifion Williams and Conall Murtagh.

And the Dragons boss is upbeat about prospects for the new campaign.

"It's a big plus for us that everyone wants to stay at the club and it's a statement of intent from those lads, all of who could have walked away," he said.

"I'm also pleased with the character of the players we have brought in. The next step is to blend everyone together.

"I have been anxious to get back for a while now. Last season was very difficult for the lads for a number of reasons, but we established some good form through April and May.

"What we need to do now is to recreate that without the fear of dropping out of the league. With the numbers we have available, we can keep everyone on their toes and go for it."

ALL SYSTEMS GO!
Wrexham Evening Leader

Brian Carey today insisted that there will be no team better prepared for the new season than Wrexham.

The Wrexham players returned to pre-season training this morning and manager Carey believes that the programme set over the summer months, coupled with the routine planned for the build up to the campaign, will put Wrexham ahead of the game.

Carey, who started his playing career with Manchester United in 1989, admits an awful lot has changed since the days when he rolled up for pre-season, expecting nothing more than long distance running to sweat out the summer over-indulgences.

"It will be a gradual process of building the players' fitness up through various exercises and tests - you can't just dive straight into it and go 'hell for leather'," said Carey, who wants to get everything right in his first full season in charge.

"When I started my playing career pre-season was much more gung ho. We would run non-stop for up to 45 minutes, but these days it is all very scientific - over the years the game has become more and more professional and we aim to continually keep ahead of the times.

"We employed Andy O'Boyle as our head of Sport Science and he really is ahead of the game. I tell you what, there will not be a better prepared team for the start of the new season than us."

One of the final things O'Boyle and Carey did before the players left for their summer holidays was to give each player a series of fitness tests, and today the players will undergo a repeat of the examinations to monitor how their fitness levels compare to when they broke up.

"The lads were all given fitness tests before they left for their summer break and when they return they will be re-tested. They were also given programmes to keep their fitness levels ticking over, but at the same time the break also gave them an opportunity to re-charge their batteries.

"Everything is very scientific and well thought out - at the end of the day the club has to have a good season this year," he added.

"Hopefully we can get good start but you have to remember that we have a lot of new players at the club who need to bed in, so it won't happen overnight. It is where we are at the end of the season which counts."

New signings Connal Murtagh, Eifion Williams, Anthony Williams and Michael Proctor met up with their new team-mates today but the Reds' other new recruit, Richard Hope, has been given a few extra days off before he returns.

"The gaffer's been good and said because I was playing until the end of May that he'd give me another week," said central defender Hope, who captained Shrewsbury in their League Two play-off final defeat by Bristol Rovers at Wembley last month.

"But I'll be raring to go and am looking forward to my first season with Wrexham - and it's not a bad first game for me as I was born just 15 minutes down the road from Darlington in Stockton.

"I've played for them too and it makes it an interesting first day of the season."

CAREY URGES EXTRA EFFORT
Rob Griffiths- Daily Post

WREXHAM boss Brian Carey has warned his players they must perform next season now that he has greater options within his squad.

The Racecourse manager's hand was further strengthened by the re-signing of Shaun Pejic.

The centre-back has ended speculation over his future with the Dragons by putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal.

And boss Carey, who this summer has already completed the capture of Anthony Williams, Michael Proctor, Eifion Williams, Connal Murtagh and Richard Hope, is delighted to have further increased his options for the coming campaign with Pejic's signature.

He said: "We're very pleased he has re-signed for us. We are building a good team for the coming season and we are delighted to have Shaun back.

"We have got competition for places all over the field. That's what you want as a manager, a big squad and it just gives us another option.

"Maybe last season when someone was struggling with a slight injury, or a lack of form we had to persist with them, but this season we have different options and it means everyone has to perform."

"Shaun did well last season and he has been with the club for a long time and like I said we are delighted he has re-signed."

Pejic, son of club physio and former player Mel Pejic, joined the Dragons in 1999.

Last season the 24-year-old formed a promising partnership in defence with former TNS centre-back Steve Evans - who has now gone on to earn international recognition with John Toshack's Wales - and only injury kept the Hereford-born youngster from adding to his 33 appearances during the campaign.

"It was a struggle at times last year," Pejic said.

"Happily though we came through a difficult season and now I really do feel that things will get better.

"We showed in the last few games that we can play and it is important that we carry on with that improvement."

Pejic is fully aware that the new faces Carey has brought to the club mean there will be extra competition for a first-team berth, but he is ready for the challenge ahead and believes he can hold down his place on the team sheet.

"There have already been several important signings with Anthony Williams and Michael Proctor returning on a permanent basis, while Eifion Williams and Richard Hope have also joined us," he added.

"As a defender, the addition of former Shrewsbury captain adds to the manager's options and creates competition for places, which can only be good for the team."

Carey will have his players in this week for light training as they begin their preparations for the new campaign.

Pejic added: "After coming back from a holiday in Egypt - even if I did suffer from a nasty bout of food poisoning during the first three days - I feel ready to go again and can't wait to get back to training.

"Especially with games against Liverpool and Blackburn to open our pre-season campaign."

REDS VISIT IS A THANK YOU TO THE FANS
Rob Griffiths - Daily Post

BRIAN CAREY revealed his delight yesterday as Wrexham confirmed a friendly date with Liverpool, insisting the club's exciting pre-season schedule is a fitting reward for their fans' loyalty last term.

Rafael Benitez's men will make a fifth appearance in four seasons at the Racecourse on Saturday July 7, joining fellow Premiership side Blackburn and Championship outfit Burnley on the Dragons' summer fixture list.

The now traditional July meeting with the Reds - whose reserves play their home games at Wrexham's ground - has provided a much need source of funds for the club, particularly during their 18-month period of administration.

And Dragons boss Carey yesterday moved to thank the Merseyside giants for sustaining the special relationship enjoyed between the two clubs.

He said: "It's a great one for us. We are delighted. Liverpool are the one club who have really helped us out, particularly when we were in administration.

"I'm quite delighted we have got them back here again. It really benefits us. Smaller clubs are often very much at the mercy of the bigger clubs and we are just thrilled to bits that they are helping us out and we can't thank them enough for coming again.

"We have got a relationship with Liverpool which we are really proud of.

He added: "It means it is going to be an exciting pre-season - it is a good reward for the fans, really. It will be good for them to come and see Premiership footballers, because last year we put them through an awful lot.

"We are just glad now that they have got something to latch on to for the next few weeks.

"It will be a good test for the players, as well. As a former player myself I know that it is always good to face the best players in the country."

The connection between Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry and Wrexham - both of his sons are involved in the Dragons' youth set-up - has often been credited with helping to forge the friendship.

However, club secretary Geraint Parry says the Racecourse outfit's relationship with the Reds has always gone beyond links with his namesake.

"The friendship has always gone beyond just the relationship with Rick Parry," he said. "Many of our best players have always come from the Liverpool area and we still have a strong Merseyside element in our squad.

"Out of the public eye we have always got on well with Liverpool at youth level.

"Their reserves have played here for the last three years and it is just nice that they have an opportunity to come to us."

"There is an awful lot that goes on between the two clubs beyond just the friendlies. That is not to say that we don't receive help from Everton or United.

"But Liverpool have stuck with us and were a good friend during our dark days. They really did support us and it is nice that they are still helping us now and are continuing that friendship."

Despite the fixture coming early in the pre-season - Liverpool return to training on July 4 - Parry still expects to see Benitez field a strong line-up.

"We know it won't be a full side, because a few of their players have been involved in internationals, but basically it will be the strongest available," he added.

"Even their fringe players, though, are all internationals.

"It will make for a really exciting pre-season."

Tickets go on sale on Monday at 10am. Police have insisted the game is an all-ticket affair, so no tickets will be available on the day.