David Brown is relishing the chance to rekindle his partnership with striker Andy Mangan at The Racecourse.

Brown, who agreed a one-year deal at Wrexham on Monday, linked up with Mangan at both Accrington and Forest Green Rovers, the former Hull City striker credited with making many of his team mates 26 league goals during the 2008/09 season.

Manager Dean Saunders has worked hard to bring the partnership back together at Wrexham and Brown is looking forward to working with Mangan once again.

“Andy played a big part, he put a word in for me and I know that Dean tried to get me on loan last season,” he said.

“We linked up together at Accrington and again at Forest Green where we formed a really strong partnership. I call Andy a ‘goal thief’ and our game suited each other.

“It would be great to link-up again but there is a lot of competition for places, we have a good squad of players and every striker will be aiming to grab a starting role and make it hard for the manager to drop them.”

Brown is another player who fits the criteria of Saunders’ summer shopping list with the ex-Manchester United youth capable of playing anywhere across midfield and as a striker.

And while Brown would favour a withdrawn role behind the striker, he is ready to display his versatility for the good of the team.

“Ideally I would like to play behind the front man but I have played in a number of positions,” he explained.

“Last season I played as a holding midfielder and I have played as a midfielder quite a lot in the past, I am willing to play anywhere though and the versatility will be important this season.

“Some weeks we will be able to pass teams to death and the others we will need to be up for the physical battle, it is about having a plan B, C and D if you are to win this league.

“There is no reason why we can’t get promotion, I have done it before and while it is tough, Wrexham are one of the biggest clubs in the league, bigger than some of those in League Two.

“The likes of Luton, Grimsby and Darlington will be expected to be near the top but we are good enough to compete with them.

The 31-year-old is no stranger to the pressures of management having spent part of last season as player/assistant to Jim Harvey at Forest Green and caretaker boss following the departure of the former Chester boss.

Speaking about his time as manager, Brown believes it has helped him understand decisions that he may not have previously agreed with.

“As a player when you hit 30 you always need to consider the end of your career and what you will do so it seemed a good progression to become assistant to Jim
Harvey, although he got the sack,” he said.

“I was appointed player/manager and enjoyed it, it helps you to understand how many tough decisions a manager has to make and you can see what they have to
deal with.

“It helps you as a player understand the thinking behind certain decisions and it was a good experience.”

As well as spending time as assistant to Harvey, Brown has links with Chester as a result of a spell at The Deva Stadium during the 2001/02 campaign.

His time with City may have been brief, but Brown was sad to see the demise of the club, he added: “It was a good little club and it was a shame to see what happened to it.

“I enjoyed my time there and as I say it was disappointing to see how things ended.”