BRIAN FLYNN believes Sam Ricketts will make a success of his first senior management position.

Former Wales international Ricketts, 36, is set to be appointed as the new manager of Wrexham today.

Ricketts was a vastly experienced defender who played for the likes of Oxford United, Swansea City, Hull City, Bolton Wanderers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City, as well as winning 52 caps for his country, before hanging up his boots in November 2016 because of a knee injury.

Ricketts has been coaching in the youth set-up at Wolves but is expected to be unveiled as Wrexham boss at a press conference today.

Flynn, who was manager at The Racecourse between 1989 and 2001, says Ricketts is a good choice and believes he can make the most of his opportunity.

“Sam has had a taste of it and knows what is required,” said Flynn. “This is his senior chance and I am sure he will be able to cope.

“He is going to be a really good choice. It is good for him and good for the club.

“Everyone needs a bit of luck and I am sure he can achieve it (promotion).”

Flynn says Ricketts was a model pro when the duo were both in the Wales set-up and believes he was always primed for management.

“I have known Sam from when I was with the under 21s and he was in the senior set-up,” said Flynn.

“He always showed an interest in the development of the younger players and seeing what was going on.

“Sam had a fantastic attitude to his colleagues, the team, and understanding tactics.

“He was a really good pro from start to finish, from the minute he came in to when he left.

“He was an integral part of the squad and the team.”

John Askey, who led Macclesfield Town to the National League title and missed out on the Reds job prior to Dean Keates’ appointment, Craig Harrison, who worked with Reds’ coach Carl Darlington at The New Saints, another former Welsh international, Craig Bellamy, and current Solihull Moors boss Mark Yates were among the names linked with the Racecourse hotseat.

The appointment of Ricketts will be seen as a surprise in some circles but Flynn has no doubt about his capabilities.

“Nothing surprises me in football management, whatever happens,” said Flynn. “As an example, look at Roy Hodgson.

“Crystal Palace had no points from their first seven league games without scoring, Roy came in and people questioned him but look at the job he has done.

“Every appointment is an important one but Sam is coming in at a good time. He will know what players he wants and he will get a chance to see the team.”

Flynn was close to reaching the play-offs in what is now League One during his tenure with the Reds.

But Wrexham, whose promotion challenge fell away and eventually finished 10th this term following a dreadful run-in, will embark on an 11th season in non-league come August.

“I was talking to somebody the other day, people called it mid-table mediocrity in the first division,” added Flynn.

“We were pushing for the play-offs and were in the play-offs with minutes to go in the final game (of the 1997-98 season).

“They were the good old days.”