The Leader:

WREXHAM’S pre-season tour in Portugal has come to an end but organiser Mike Davies is ready to do it all again next year.

The Reds enjoyed another successful training break in Villamoura in the Algarve as part of their preparations for the 2018-19 National League campaign.

It is the second year in a row that the club have headed to the region with Davies, owner of shirt supplier Macron Wrexham, arranging the trip, and he would love to make it a hat-trick of tours in 12 months time.

“We had a great time with Dean Keates last year and Sam Ricketts has been absolutely brilliant this year,” said Davies, who is from Oswestry.

“He has embraced it, he has got a fantastic team of staff around him and the players are brilliant to work with so we couldn’t be happier.

“It has been a privilege, we love working with the club, it is fantastic and really great to be part of.

“Hopefully the relationship can continue and if all goes well, which I am sure it will do, hopefully we can make it bigger and better next year.”

An open training session was held at the plush Vale do Lobo complex and Wrexham faced Portuguese third tier side Louletano Desportes Club in a friendly at the 30,305 seat capacity Estádio Algarve, located near the town of Almancil.

Davies admits it is a coup being able to use such fantastic facilities.

“We are working with our Macron partner in Portugal so we have got access to facilities that a lot of people wouldn’t have,” said Davies.

“I know a lot of big clubs in England come over and pay an awful lot for these facilities, we are very fortunate that we have access to them and hopefully it is going to be a great benefit for Wrexham to kick on in the new season.”

Davies declared the venture a success once again and feels all the planning and hard work was worth it, with hundreds of Reds’ fans making the trip to Portugal to see their team.

“A lot of work has gone in to it which started a long time ago, off the back of a good tour last year,” said Davies.

“With the club’s blessing, it was a good opportunity to do another tour and try and make it a bit better again.

“We have got some good contacts over here in Portugal, good training facilities that we can use and this time we had the stadium which was a bonus.

“The management are happy and that is the main reason we are here really, to make sure it provides a good platform for the players and the management to get pre-season off to a good start.

“We are very grateful to the club for all their assistance in making it happen and delighted to be a part of it.”