ANDY DAVIES has called time on his 25-year association with Wrexham to link-up with Dean Keates at Walsall.

Since joining Wrexham as a schoolboy player, Davies held a variety of coaching roles and was Head of Youth before becoming assistant manager when Keates took charge of Wrexham in October 2016.

When Keates left to take over at Walsall in March, Davies was appointed manager of hometown club Wrexham until the end of the season.

Wrexham's promotion challenge faded but when Sam Ricketts was appointed as Reds' boss last week, the former Wales international said he was not planning any changes to the backroom staff already in place at The Racecourse.

However, Davies was yesterday unveiled as Keates' assistant manager, and he is looking forward to a new challenge.

A statement by Davies on the club website said: "Wrexham is home but the opportunity to further myself professionally and to work alongside Dean again is one I couldn’t refuse and a challenge I am looking forward to.

"As a team over the last 18 months we’ve experienced highs and lows. We were thrilled to be top of the league in November and always had our sight set on the play offs and ultimately promotion.

"As we all know that wasn’t meant to be this time, and as many people have said hindsight is a wonderful thing, but we took on the task and nobody is more disappointed than me that we didn’t deliver.

"But progress has been made in stabilising and developing the foundations of the club and with continued hard work both on and off the pitch I am confident Wrexham AFC will achieve their ultimate goal and achieve promotion in the near future.

"I would like to wish Sam and everyone connected with the club every success in the future."