Morrell still undecided over playing future

Wrexham boss Andy Morrell says he won’t make a decision on his playing future until his club have gone through pre-season.

There has been much speculation over whether the former Coventry, Blackpool and Bury star would continue his dual player/management role after making 28 appearances and scoring four times during his club’s third promotion failure in succession, culminating in defeat to Newport County in the play-off final at Wembley.

While he will definitely lead the club from the dugout this season, he said of his playing prospects: “The staff believe I still have a part to play. I will join in the pre-season as it keeps you fit but we have to see what my body can take.

“It’s dependent on what bodies we can get in. It’s all a bit up in the air, but if my body can take it I don’t see why I can’t feature as much as I did last season if not more.”

The Dragons lost prolific marksmen Danny Wright to Forest Green Rovers at the end of last season and Morrell is keen to replace him as he believes the club did not score enough goals during their promotion push.

“It’s definitely a priority, and we’ve had a couple of disappointments this summer with players choosing Football League clubs over us, but that’s part of it all.

“We still have a couple of irons in the fire, and we’re hopeful of getting something sorted soon.”

One of those irons will not be Bury striker Andy Bishop, a personal friend of Morrell who spent part of last season on loan at the Racecourse, despite recent speculation linking him to the club.

Morrell continued: “He is contracted with Bury, and it would take quite a lot of money to get him out of that. We speak regularly because he is my mate, but I want to iterate it is not a possibility. I don’t really like talking about players contracted to other clubs anyway.”

Morrell also believes the disappointment of a third successive play-off failure is “out of the system” and his squad are “raring to go” for the new campaign. Despite losing Wright and defender Martin Riley to Mansfield the majority of the squad have stuck by the club, which the boss believes is testament to what they are building.

“Wrexham are a good club and that’s why people want to stay here,” Morrell continued. “We look after them and with one or two coming in we have a good chance of another crack at promotion.

“We want promotion this time but there are one or two big hitters in the division again so it’s going to be tough. Our team spirit is fantastic and there’s no reason why we can’t be there or there about at the end of the season.

“Everyone at the club is pulling in the right direction. We are sound financially, which we haven’t really been before, and the club is in a very good place.”

This is a sentiment echoed by secretary Geraint Parry who said: "We had money out of the FA Trophy victory, which reduced forecast losses dramatically.

"We are not badly off - we are very competitive but we don't have rich owners to back us. We have fantastic supporters making us sustainable and we are much more manageable. Our support at this level is also very good, and that will bring its own rewards."

Wrexham have also announced another stellar pre-season friendly against Stoke City at the Racecourse on August 4, to add to those already announced against Blackburn Rovers on July 6 and Wolverhampton Wanderers on July 16.