SAM RICKETTS says that he leaves Wrexham in their "strongest position for 10 or 15 years".

The former Wales international has been appointed manager of Shrewsbury Town, electing to join the League One club just seven months into his reign as Reds boss.

Wrexham are among the National League leaders and also have an FA Cup third round tie with Leicester City to look forward to if the Reds overcome Newport County.

With the club also in a strong position off the field, Ricketts was reluctant to move on but believes he leaves Wrexham in a good place.

“I am sorry to go," said Ricketts. "Wrexham believed in me in the summer. They let me start my managerial career.

“I would like to think that the performances and where the club is now has justified that decision from them.

“Did I want to go? Was I looking to go? No. It has to be something very attractive for me to go.

“They were brilliant for me. Like I said, I would like to think I have left the club in the best place it has been in years both on and off the pitch.

“Financially, they are into the draw for the third round which must have generated a few thousand for the club, which is something they have not done for a good number of years.

“I would like to think I have left them in the strongest position they have been for ten or 15 years.

“I am sorry to go because I had some really good foundations in place, but opportunities in football do not come around very often and this was one I had to take.”

Ricketts admits he wouldn't have left Wrexham for any club but couldn't turn down the chance to become Shrews boss.

“This is a big step for me," added Ricketts. "You have to be careful being a manager.

"This is not like being a player. If it does not work out as a player you can just bounce off onto somewhere else.

“When this opportunity came along it was one that I was obviously really attracted to and I decided to go for it.

“Had it have been a number of other clubs, I probably would have stayed where I was because that was in a really good place as well.

“Going back to five or six years ago, I saw Shrewsbury as a good place to go and manage and that opportunity came around much sooner than I imagined. I don’t think it was something I could turn down."