Mark Carrington believes that the unity among Wrexham's squad will be vital to sustaining a promotion push in the season ahead.

The 31-year-old midfielder and vice-captain is currently the Red's longest-serving player, joining the club under former boss Andy Morrell in 2013.

With 169 appearances for the club in the last five National League campaigns, Carrington knows more than most about the rigours of fifth tier football.

Much of the pre-season hype has centred on big-spending new arrivals Salford City, along with established Football League sides Chesterfield and Barnet.

But Carrington insists that financial muscle is no guarantee of success and that squad cohesion is more important.

He said: "When I first started in this league there was definitely a bit of gulf between the top and the bottom sides, but I don't necessarily think that's the case now.

"Obviously at the start of this season, people are throwing around names like Salford , Chesterfield and Barnet who are the big-hitters and they're obviously going to be up there and challenging this season.

"Some of these clubs have got players on fortunes who, if they turn it on in games, can beat anyone.

"But as you've seen with other teams in the past it's not always that straightforward in this league.

"You look at other clubs who've spent a lot of money, the likes of Eastleigh, where it's not really worked out because the team hasn't gelled and it may be a case of too many big names thrown together in a squad.

"Obviously, it helps if you've got a big budget, but there's a lot to be said for getting a good group together, who work hard and who trust each other.

"When you've got that, everyone believes in each other and as far as I'm concerned there's no better group than we've got here and there's no reason why we can't match any of the big boys at the top."

Since taking the manager's role in may, Sam Ricketts has retained the core of Wrexham's squad while bolstering his attacking options with the signing of Mike Fondop-Talom, along with on-loan duo Stuart Beavon and Freddie Hinds.

While defensively solid under former manager Dean Keates last season, the Reds' poor goalscoring record ultimately cost them a play-off place.

A total of 22 clean sheets in the league last season set a new club record but was offset by a meagre goals return of just 49 from 46 games.

But Carrington has been impressed by the quality Ricketts has recruited and expects a more attack-minded philosophy from his side next term.

"Pre-season has been good. The lads here have all enjoyed it and have come in and worked hard over the summer.

"There's lots of new ideas being put in place, which we've taken on board and I think we're in really good shape for the new season.

"Sam's come in and he's brought in some good new ideas and a lot of new tactics, which the lads all seem to be buying into. We're working on different patterns and different attacking plays to improve us.

"Obviously we were very solid last year, but now we're trying to work on a few things which will make us a bit more expansive as a team so that we're carrying more of an attacking threat in the final third.

"Hopefully we're going to see a big improvement on that side of things. The way we set up for games looks like it will change this season so hopefully that will help and we've brought in a number of forward players who we all hope will hit the ground running.

"We want them to chip in and play their part to add to the good work done by the likes of Chrissy (Holroyd) and our other forwards did last year.

"It can take time for new players arriving at team to gel with the other lads, but there's a good core of players here which the gaffer's kept and he's added some new names too.

"All of the lads who've come in are very good players who've been about and I think we've bonded pretty quickly.

"The aim is to get promoted, and on a personal level it's to get into the first team and stay there and do as well as I can for the club."