MICKEY THOMAS believes Wrexham are heading into one of the most important chapters in the club’s proud history.

And the Reds legend has warned those who run the club not to ignore last season’s ‘wake-up call’ when the team narrowly escaped relegation to National League North.

“Last season was a wake-up call,” said Thomas, who enjoyed two spells with the Reds, making more than 300 appearances for the club he is so passionate for.

“The warning signs were there for all to see. Things aren’t right at the club. That’s pretty obvious. We’ve been in non-league football for so long now - what is it, 13 seasons. And we really don’t look like getting out anytime soon.

“There needs to be a change of philosophy the club, those who run it and the same for the manager and coaching staff.

“Just look at the amount of managers we’ve had in the Conference. The board keep hiring, firing and the managers coming in then do the same with the playing squad.

“Recruitment has been poor, you can’t hide away from that. There’s been far too many ins and outs - at management level and on the playing front. It needs to be addressed

“There’s a lot of money been wasted and that will start to hit home, especially as clubs try and recover from the impact of coronavirus.”

Dean Keates has only a wafer-thin squad at present and his plans for next season were dealt a blow when experienced left back James Jennings signed for National League rivals Stockport County instead of extending his stay at The Racecourse.

Wrexham revealed they had lost £250,000 from have their final five home games of the season canned - and they have not yet been able to sell season tickets for a new campaign that nobody knows the starting date for.

“That just adds to the disaster that was last season. God knows what would have happened to the club if we’d got relegated. It doesn’t bear thinking about,” added Thomas, who celebrated his 66th birthday earlier this month.

Thomas, once again, pleaded with the club to go back to producing it’s own players and to invest in youth.

“We keep going for experience when really we should be developing out own players, like we used to,” added Thomas.

“The club must go back to it’s old values of bringing in players from the youth system and giving the kids a chance of playing first team football.

“Look at the likes of me, Joey Jones, Billy Ashcroft, Dave Smallman, I could name more. John Neal gave us that chance in the Seventies and we made the club money.

“And then Brian Flynn did the same in the Nineties. But that’s 30 years ago.

“We made good money from the Danny Ward and Neil Taylor transfers but that’s running out and with things being tight, bringing in young players has to be the way forward.”