ON THE WAY UP
Mark Currie - Daily Post

GOALKEEPER Anthony Williams, who played a key role in Wrexham's successful battle against relegation last season, reckons anything less than promotion in the campaign to come will go down as a failure.

The Maesteg-born shot-stopper kept five clean sheets in nine games and conceded only five goals as the Dragons took 16 points from a possible 27 to secure their League Two status in a dramatic finale against Boston United at the Racecourse.

And Williams, who sealed a permanent move from his previous club, Carlisle United, during the summer, is looking to build on the foundations of that initial success.

"Those statistics tell their own story and mean that we were heading in the right direction as the season drew to a close," he said yesterday.

"It goes without saying that the more clean sheets you keep the fewer games you lose and I don't think there's any doubt that we looked like a pretty solid defensive unit during that little run, which is something we need to take into the new season."

The former Wales under-21 goalkeeper added: "But there's only so many clean sheets a goalkeeper can have so it's the defensive unit which is judged by how mean a team is, just as its attacking strength is measured by the goals scored.

"Any goalkeeper at this level of football is by definition a good shot-stopper - what makes the difference is his decision-making and his communication with the defenders in front of him.

"The better goalkeepers are those who have little or nothing to do during a game and that's because they make more right decisions than wrong ones during open play. That was the case here towards the end of last season and I'm hoping that we'll carry on doing that.

"I'm 29 now and I learned my trade at Blackburn Rovers working with the likes of Shay Given and Tim Flowers. But the older you get, the more knowledge and experience you pick up and hopefully that means you don't have to make so many saves to be effective."

Williams and his family have now settled into a new home on the outskirts of Wrexham and have already experienced the goodwill towards the club that manifested itself in the near-13,000 Racecourse attendance for the Boston match.

"The neighbours are really great and they've said they will be coming to watch us next season," added the 29-year old keeper. "But we have to give our supporters something to get excited and passionate about.

"In my view that means promotion and anything else will mean we have under-achieved as a team. Including myself and Michael Proctor there have been five new signings in the close season, which is good for everyone, and I'm sure the fans will be as excited as we are about the new season."

Like all of his Racecourse colleagues, Williams is looking forward to Saturday's visit of Liverpool for the first of the club's pre-season friendly matches, but he cautioned supporters not to expect too much.

"Obviously I want to play some part in the game because it's a great opportunity to face a group of world-class footballers, but it's a first run-out for both teams at an early stage of our build-up for the new season," he said.

"We've had a hard but enjoyable first week of training, but a game situation is a totally different kettle of fish and there will undoubtedly be some rustiness. Having said that, I know some of the new lads are keen to impress the fans.

"From what I understand, there will be a big crowd there on Saturday, which is good news for the club and I hope they come back again next Tuesday for the game against Blackburn.

"That will be a special night for me because of my previous links with them. There aren't too many people there I would remember from my time at Ewood Park, but they are another big club and I'm delighted for the fans that they have been given the chance to see two Premiership clubs in action."

CAREY INTRODUCES WREXHAM CODE
Mark Currie - Daily Post

WREXHAM manager Brian Carey has introduced a new code of conduct at the Racecourse, after admitting there is room for an improvement in standards - both on and off the field.

And he has made it clear to his players that they have a responsibility to themselves and to the League Two club to ensure that last season's flirtation with relegation will not be repeated when the new campaign gets under way next month.

The 39-year-old Racecourse boss, who was regarded as a model professional during his playing career at Manchester United, LeicesterCity and Wrexham, insisted he was not laying down the law, but instead was inviting his players to buy into his own philosophy.

Displaying a level of candour not often associated with the closed world of professional football, Carey revealed that every member of the playing staff had been issued with a copy of the code, which covers a variety of topics, including personal fitness, self-assessment, career goals and social responsibility.

"I have had a long chat with the lads about why we are all here at this football club and where we want to be in the future," he said.

"We have to get away from the idea that we stroll into work at 10am each day without caring too much what we are doing while we are here and I want to set targets and objectives.

"I have challenged each and every one of them to ask themselves what they need to do in order to become the best they possibly can.

"I want all of them to manage themselves and to continually be looking at those areas in which they can develop and improve.

"They have a collective responsibility as a team, but they also have a responsibility to themselves and if they buy into what we want from them everyone will benefit."

Carey added that the players had also been reminded about their wider responsibilities, particularly as role models to younger fans.

"It's vitally important that the players live the lives of professional athletes," he said. "They have been given a code of conduct we want them to live up to when they are out and about in the wider community. They are ambassadors for Wrexham FC and we've been aware for some time that there is room for improvement in this particular area."

The code will be backed up by a disciplinary structure, but the Dragons boss is hoping that it will prove unnecessary.

"We have a disciplinary code which covers a wide range of things because we want this club to be the best we can make it and one is no good without the other," he added.

"But I don't want to lay down the law. What we have come up with is simply what we believe is acceptable in terms of setting standards both on and off the field of play."

Looking ahead to the weekend, Carey said he was thrilled by the news that there is standing room only left for Saturday's visit to the Racecourse by Liverpool.

Wrexham fans have snapped up all available seats for the first of the pre-season friendlies, leaving only Kop tickets for sale until close of business on Friday evening.

"I'm thrilled to bits because it shows the new season is continuing in the way the last one finished with fans turning up in huge numbers to watch us," he said.

"With all the problems that the club has suffered over the past two or three years, it's a vote of confidence in everyone who is now trying to take Wrexham forward to a successful future.

"The fans are demonstrating their faith in us as a team and it's up to us to respond in the right manner.

"Liverpool are obviously a star attraction, having reached the Champions League final last season, but I'm sure lots of our fans are keen to get their first look at the new lads we have brought in during the summer to strengthen our squad."

REDS' BOSS LAYS DOWN THE RULES
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

BRIAN CAREY is asking his Wrexham squad to set high standards this season - on and off the pitch - with the focus on self improvement.

The Reds' boss has introduced a new code of conduct for his first team squad, which currently numbers 29 players, covering topics such as self assessment and individual goals.

Carey is keen to ensure last season's relegation scare never happens again and he is striving to ensure Wrexham will be challenging at the right end of the League Two table in the new season.

But the new set of rules also acknowledges how players should conduct themselves off the pitch, and Carey has reminded them of the social responsibility they have as professional footballers.

"The players know and understand what they have got to do, and ensure that they live the right lifestyle, said Carey today. "That is a very important thing and it is an area we can improve on.

"We can't have people here not living the right lifestyle. Things have gone on here in the past that I have not been happy about but that has gone now.

"We had a chat and everyone is agreed with what we want to do and where we are going.

"They have all been given a code of conduct what is acceptable on and off the pitch, and hopefully that takes us forward. The lads know what we expect of them and they were very responsive."

A disciplinary structure has been put in place but Carey hopes the new code will get the best out of his players on the pitch.

With each individual asked to set personal targets, Carey believes his players will reap the benefits by trying to improve themselves.

"We have had a chat with the lads discussing where we want to go and why we are at this club," added Carey. "We were looking for feedback from them about what they want to achieve.

"The players were asked to set targets and ask themselves what they can do to become the best they can. They should be continually looking at that and trying to improve themselves all the time.

"We set goals for the team and we want the players to do the same for themselves. We want the players to try and take themselves forward, and buy into what we are doing and trying to achieve here. As well as it being a team effort, they have a duty to themselves."

Carey is now preparing Wrexham for the first pre-season of the summer when the Reds host Liverpool at The Racecourse on Saturday in an all-ticket clash.

Only Kop tickets remain for Wrexham supporters with all home seats now taken, and fans are reminded that the ticket office is open 9.30am-6pm each day this week and no sales will be made on the day of the game.

Carey will be hoping Lee McEvilly is fit enough to feature after the striker injured his shoulder on Monday and did not take part in yesterday's session.