DEAN KEATES believes he has recruited possibly the best left-back in the National League - and a midfielder who has proved himself since a difficult first spell at Wrexham.

Experienced defender Jamie Reckord made 90 league appearances during a two-and-a-half year stint with Solihull Moors, helping the Damson Park outfit finish second in the 2018-19 campaign, before becoming the first new signing of the summer at The Racecourse.

Reds' boss Keates could not believes that Reckord, a replacement for James Jennings, who has joined Stockport, was released by Moors.

"Jamie knows the division inside out," said Keates.

"He is experienced and he has been in a team that is up there challenging.

"I am absolutely delighted to get him. I was surprised that he has been released because for me, he is up there with the best left-backs in the division, if not the best.

"He is a very good signing and he has already shown that these last few days."

Reckord was followed to Wrexham by Elliott Durrell, who made 30 league appearances and scored four goals during an injury-hit 18 month spell at the club before being released at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Since his first stint with the Reds, Durrell played for Tamworth, Chester, Macclesfield – with whom he won the National League – York City and Altrincham, a club he helped clinch promotion to the fifth tier at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.

Keates praised Durrell for the way he has responded to being shown the door by then-Reds boss Gary Mills.

"It was a transition for Elliott, he was part-time and then he came to Wrexham, and it didn't happen for whatever reason," said Keates.

"He took the body blow of being released, has gone away and come full circle.

"You look at what he has done since leaving; Elliott did really well for himself at Chester and used that as his platform.

"He did well at Macclesfield, achieved promotion despite what they had to face within the changing room with delayed wages, so he has been part of a team that has been successful in this division and knows how to compete."

Keates revealed he was close to signing former team-mate Durrell last season before finally landing the 31-year-old, who he sees as a replacement for Oldham-bound Davis Keillor-Dunn.

"I spoke to Elliott before he went to York but we weren't in a position then to be able to do anything," said Keates.

"I always said that I would keep in touch so I have spoken to him a few times over the last few months.

"I left him alone when he came up to the play-offs with Altrincham but in the back of mind with anything possibly happening with Davis Keillor-Dunn, he was somebody that I always had earmarked as a replacement.

"As soon as I knew Davis' decision, it was an easy deal for us to get done."

Keates, who made striker Jordan Ponticelli his third new signing of the summer, is closing in on more additions.

"We are still looking to be adding in the foreseeable future and over the next few weeks," said Keates.

"We are trying but if not, we will go into next week and just take each day as it comes."