EDDIE NIEDZWIECKI has admitted ‘it’s news to me’ that he and former Wales boss Mark Hughes are names in the hat for the Wrexham job.

But the former Reds keeper, who has been a trusted coach alongside Hughes in his managerial career, thinks getting Les Reed on board as an advisor is a ‘great coup for the club.’

Wrexham-born Hughes, who comes from Ruabon, went down to as little as 6/1 in the betting odds to replace Dean Keates last week.

Fans were putting two and two together - especially with the fact that Reed was Director of Football at St Mary’s when Hughes and Niedzwiecki were at Southampton.

Hughes hasn’t managed since leaving the Saints in 2018 but a return to The Racecourse where he used to watch his hometown club and produce memorable displays for Wales, is highly unlikely even with the money mega-rich movie stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are going to throw at the new venture.

“It’s news to me,” said Niedzwiecki, who made more than 120 appearances during a seven-year stint at Wrexham between 1976 and 1983.

“I can see the link. Les Reed was at Southampton when Mark and I were there. He’s a really good football man, who knows his stuff.

“It’s quite a coup for the club to get him on board. He has a worldwide footballing knowledge and was a very good coach in his day. It’s an outstanding addition.”

Reed’s task is to find a new manager although Niedzwiecki described it as ‘very sad’ to see Keates shown the door.

“It’s always very sad when a manager loses his job,” added the former Wales and Chelsea shot-stopper. “I was very surprised.”

Former Huddersfield Town boss and Cardiff City captain Mark Hudson (pictured left) has emerged as the new favourite to land the job but there’s been no update from the club over the weekend.

Niedzwiecki also repeated his call for the club to get Wrexham icon Joey Jones back on board and to tap in to former Reds defender Dennis Lawrence’s knowledge as he still lives in the Wrexham area.

“Joey is iconic. I still say there should be a statue of him outside the ground or a street named after him,” he added. “It would be a big plus if Joey returned in some capacity.

“And the same can be said about Dennis Lawrence. He still lives in the town and has a feel for the club.”

A return to the Colliers’ Park training ground - something the club is looking into - is also imperative in Niedzwiecki’s eyes.

“It’s such a great facility and one the club should never have let go,” he said.

“Showing someone around a training complex like that does help attract players and it’s important they have a regular base to train from.

“I know it was a bit different in our day. But Stansty was our base and if the weather was bad, we’d go indoors at Plas Madoc.”