SAM RICKETTS has praised the attitude of his players amidst speculation linking him with the vacant manager's job at Shrewsbury Town.

Rumours spread that Ricketts is a target of the Shrews after the former Wales international was installed as bookmakers' favourite for the position.

Wrexham came from behind to draw 1-1 at Maidstone on Saturday and Ricketts felt his side played as well as they have done all season in the first half.

"The players are the most important thing at any football club," said Ricketts.

"What we have got here is a really good group of players, great attitudes, and I think the performance they put in first half was right up there with one of the best we have done this year.

"We just didn't the goal or two goals or three goals that we deserved first half but the way we moved the ball was right up there with as well as we have done all season."

Ricketts continues to be linked with Shrewsbury but it is business as usual for him and the players at The Racecourse ahead of Saturday's top of the table home game against Leyton Orient.

"You can't stop rumours about yourself," added Ricketts.

"It is just a representative of the club are doing well so me as manager, there will be rumours about me.

"There will be rumours about the players because they are playing well.

"If you are top of the table or you are right up at the top of the table, you are doing something right in which case then you are always going to have admirers.

"When I spoke to the players on Friday, rumours are only rumours. It doesn't mean anything.

"Never get sidetracked by someone saying so-and-so is interested in you because it means nothing, it is just a rumour.

"It was never in doubt for me would the players let it affect them because they are great characters as much as anything and they will continue doing what they have done all season."