IT has been a fresh start for everyone under Sam Ricketts and Manny Smith is enjoying his football as much as ever.

Former Wales international Ricketts took over as manager in May and has guided Wrexham to the top of the National League ahead of tomorrow's game against Eastleigh.

Centre-back Smith has been pivotal to Wrexham's excellent start, helping the Reds keep four successive clean sheets and taking 10 points from a possible 12, and he is pleased with how things are going.

"A new gaffer coming in, you are always keen to impress," said Smith.

"Everyone is on a fresh slate but the gaffer has been superb with everyone.

"He has been good for me and everyone is buying into what it is about, what he is doing and where we want to go as a club.

"Everyone knows how I feel about the club and how my time has been here and what I would like to do here.

"I am always enjoying my football, I am always prepared for every game and getting the club out of this league is the main thing."

Wrexham have hit the ground running but Smith knows there is still a long way to go.

"Almost a perfect start but the main thing is we are not getting ahead of ourselves," said Smith.

"We have made a good start but we each have our own targets and we have got a target as a club.

"We have just just got to take it one game at a time and not get carried away."

Smith played his part in Wrexham's record breaking haul of 22 clean sheets last season.

Another record was broken following Tuesday's 2-0 win at Maidenhead, Wrexham starting the season with four successive clean sheets for the first time in the club's history.

With Wrexham looking more of an attacking threat this season and with more goals in the team, Smith says that bodes well for when the defence is eventually breached.

"We have done well and we haven't conceded yet but we have got goals in the team now," said Smith.

"Even if we do concede, I think we are good enough to come back from it.

"It has been good to watch from the back. That is down to the gaffer and the way he has got us playing.

"He has given the lads in front of us a bit more freedom to express themselves and to make things happen and to take a bit of pressure off us.

"Once we go two or three nil up then things relax a bit, it is all about managing the game and seeing the game out.

"We have got to kick on and keep knocking out the three points."

Wrexham's first game as leaders is against Eastleigh at The Silverlake Stadium and Smith is expecting another tough test but one he feels the Reds can pass given the quality in the side.

"Being top is very nice and something that we deserve," added Smith.

"But as players, it has gone now and everyone is focussing on Eastleigh.

"It is not going to be an easy game but we have just got to concentrate on ourselves.

"We get a good breakdown of them so we know what to expect but it is about us performing on the day and doing the basics right.

"Keep going for the win, keep believing in ourselves and keep believing in the direction the gaffer wants to go with us."