OFF THE FENCE: What would you have done differently to Wrexham FC boss?

Dean Saunders

YOU’VE got to wonder what Dragons boss Dean Saunders has to do to a) make the job work and b) get fans behind him.

He came with lots of pomp and ceremony just over two years ago and was regarded as a major coup for the club.

We (and by that I mean the majority of the fans and the media) thought appointing him was a great idea after the largely unpopular spell under Brian Little.

His first moves were to weed out what we thought we were players not good enough for Wrexham FC such as Darran Kempson, Shaun Whalley and Simon Brown, replacing them with bright young talents on loan, such as Swansea’s Joe Allen.

Dean Saunders hits out at Wrexham FC fixture congestion

Dean Saunders

WREXHAM FC manager Dean Saunders has hit out at having to play their opening six Blue Square Bet Premier fixtures in the space of just 16 days.

The Dragons won two, drew two and lost two, and find themselves 12th in the table with eight points.

But Saunders blamed the loss of three players in Monday’s 2-0 win at Bath City on the amount of fixtures played.

“It’s a ridiculous schedule that they’ve had to go through,” Saunders said.

“Marvin Andrews has come off with a hamstring, Adrian Cieslewicz has come off with a hamstring, Frank Sinclair pulled his groin and it’s just overuse of players.

Dean Saunders denies Wrexham FC signing goalkeeper Russell Saunders

Dean Saunders

WREXHAM FC manager Dean Saunders last night denied the Dragons had signed goalkeeper Russell Saunders.

Reports yesterday claimed Saunders (right) had signed his namesake, who was released by the Dragons’ Blue Square Bet Premier rivals Altrincham in August.

However, the Dragons boss – currently with the Wales squad – last night said he had not done a deal for the Bury-born player, who had joined Alty after being released by Premier League side Wigan last year.

Crusaders’ Mark Bryant desperate to make Super League play-offs

Crusaders' Mark Bryant in action

MARK BRYANT says helping Crusaders into the play-offs will rank as one of the greatest achievements of his career.

Hull KR visit the Racecourse Ground tonight (kick-off 6.45pm) in what is the most important game in Crusaders’ history.

Brian Noble’s men must beat Hull KR and hope that St Helens defeat eighth-placed Castleford, who currently occupy the final play-off spot on points difference.

Both games kick-off at 6.45 and it is all set to be a tense evening in Wrexham.

But Australian prop Bryant, 29, is used to the big occasion. He played over 100 first-grade NRL games before joining the North Wales outfit, and famously captained Manly to glory in the 2008 NRL Grand Final win.

Scott Shearer says Wrexham FC’s season is in safe hands

Scott Shearer

GOALKEEPER Scott Shearer insists Wrexham’s season is in safe hands ahead of tomorrow’s Welsh derby against Newport County.

The former Coventry City and Bristol Rovers stopper has come in for criticism from sections of the fans after conceding 10 goals in six games since signing from Wycombe Wanderers in July.

Arguably the low point for the Scotsman was the barracking he received during the team’s 2-2 draw with Kidderminster Harriers.

But the 29-year-old insists he belongs between the sticks and vowed to put in a performance against the Blue Square Bet Premier League newcomers during tomorrow’s televised match at the Newport Stadium.