SEAN NEWTON has sounded out a warning to former club Wrexham after experiencing for himself that no club is too big to go down.

The Reds go into the crucial festive period in the midst of a National League relegation battle and looking to pull clear of trouble - something left-back Newton was unable to achieve with York in the 2016-17 campaign after leaving The Racecourse.

Having lost their Football League status the previous season, the Minstermen were among the promotion favourites but a challenge never materialised and a 17-game winless run meant Gary Mills' side were scrapping for their lives at the wrong end of the fifth tier.

York's form improved after the turn of the year but the damage had already been done and the club was relegated to National League North for the first time, evidence that no team should feel they are immune from the dreaded drop.

"The worst thing that can be said or you can fall into is 'we are too big of a club to go down', because no club is too big to go down," said Newton, who was captain of Wrexham under Mills.

"You can't keep saying that because of the club, fanbase or players; eventually you will run out of games and then it is impossible.

"There is obviously something not right there that needs fixing but I am sure Dean Keates and the players will turn it around.

"There is no doubt in my mind that with the squad Wrexham have got, the fan-base and the club that it is, that in their situation they have got as good a chance as anyone to get out of that relegation zone and kick-on up the table."

York were eventually relegated on the final day of the season after failing to get the win they needed at home to Forest Green.

"I signed on loan from Wrexham at the end of October and we had a tough two months," said Newton.

"In January we had players like Jon Parkin, Dan Parslow and Amari Morgan-Smith, good players at this level, but we were quite adrift.

"From January until the end of the season, I think our form was in the top 10 in the league but it still wasn't good enough to stay up.

"We lost out on the last day. We could still do it but we drew against Forest Green."

Wrexham go into today's game at fellow strugglers Sutton on the back of two successive league wins which has taken the Reds off the bottom of the table and given renewed hope in the bid to reach safety.

Newton admits momentum is key in the quest for survival.

"They have got good lads there who will want to do things the right way so it is just about building a bit of momentum as soon as you can," said Newton.

"The sooner you do it the better; the longer it goes on, the harder it becomes to win and then the points gap gets bigger, and it is harder to get back.

"The fans then start to give up on you and it becomes a struggle."

Wrexham's 12th season in non-league has not gone to plan but Newton stressed the importance of supporters continuing to get behind the players.

"It is a horrible situation to be in and it is tough," added Newton.

"As soon as you give the ball away or make a mistake, the fans get on you because all they are thinking is 'we are in the relegation zone and we need a win'.

"But then the players feel the pressure of the fans and it is hard.

"I know it is tough for the fans because they are at the bottom of the table but as a player who has been in the game for so long, you need your fans the most when you are struggling.

"It is easy to get behind or cheer when you are winning but when you are struggling, that is when you need your fans to be non-stop signing, cheering every tackle and getting behind you."