WREXHAM legend Darren Ferguson is tipping his former club to challenge for promotion this season.
The 38-year-old Scot, who made more than 300 appearances between 1999 and 2007, returned to The Racecourse for Wednesday’s pre-season friendly as his
Preston North End outfit drew 1-1 with Wrexham.
Striker Andy Mangan netted a first-half equaliser for Wrexham who more than matched their Championship opponents throughout the entertaining encounter.
Impressed with how Wrexham performed, Ferguson hopes the Reds can now go
on and win a place back in the Football League.
“Hopefully Wrexham get up this season, I really hope they do,” said Ferguson. “It is a really good club, I had eight great years here and the fans gave me a good
reception.
“If they play like that, and work like that, then I’m sure they will have a good season.
“I was impressed with them. They try and play the right way with Dean Saunders, there were some good performances individually and as a team they played well.
“I hope they do well. You always look for the teams you have played for and Wrexham is no exception.”
Ferguson left Wrexham to take over as Peterborough manager and he enjoyed two successive promotions with the Posh.
Midfielder Dean Keates, one of Dean Saunders’ summer signings, helped lead Peterborough from League Two to the Championship and Ferguson could not
speak highly enough of the 32-year-old.
“It is a great signing for Wrexham,” said Ferguson. “Dean is a great lad with fantastic attitude and a good character.
“It is a really good signing by Dean Saunders. He asked me about him and I had no hesitation in recommending Dean.
“He has won six promotions so that says it all. Dean will do very well for Wrexham.”
Saunders has also brought in striker Andy Morrell, a former team-mate of Ferguson’s who scored 34 league goals during Wrexham’s 2002-03 promotion campaign.
“I had some good years with Andy and he is a terrific lad, a good professional who has stayed in the game a long time,” said Ferguson. “Andy will get goals for Wrexham.
“Dean has made some shrewd signings, some good professionals, and you need that character around the place.”
Although working on a reduced budget, Saunders has made nine new signings but still hopes to bring in a centre-back - a department he is short on bodies - and a midfielder to replace Andy Fleming who has joined Morecambe on a two-year deal, with a fee to be decided by a tribunal.
But having already allowed defender Leon Clowes (Airbus) and striker Obi Anoruo (Vauxhall Motors) to go out on loan, Saunders said others could follow suit to allow him to make new signings because of a lack of funds.
“I am still a couple of players short of where I want to be so I might have to let a few players go out on loan to get the balance of the squad right because we have run out of money,” said Saunders.
“We have got two centre-backs, Frank Sinclair and Chris Blackburn, and I need to strengthen that area.
“With Andy going to Morecambe we have got to replace him as well. But I was pleased with Dean Keates and Jay Harris - it is not the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog. The two of them are 5ft 7in but they are like little terriors.
“There are obviously bits and bobs I would like to strengthen but we can’t afford to do it.”
Saunders was pleased with Wrexham’s performance against Preston, with a number of individuals catching the eye.
“I thought we did well,” said Saunders. “After we scored the goal, for 25 minutes I thought we were going to go on and get another one.
“I didn't think we deserved to go behind but I thought there some good performances.
“The two midfielders - Jay and Dean - have got hearts of lions and I am pleased with how the team is shaping up.
“Declan Walker played really well, and so has left-back Johnny Hunt. Both of them are a bonus, they are only 18 so you have got to give them a bit of room for error
because they are going to make mistakes.”
Saunders will continue to run the rule over defender Cameron Mawer and midfielder Jamie Tolley who are both on trial and could feature in tomorrow’s friendly against Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road (3pm).
“I am looking at them and giving Jamie a chance to get fit,” said Saunders. “He is not fit yet and I would like to see him when he is fully fit.
“But they are going to want a decision off me soon because they have got to think about their careers.”