Signing of Franks adds to strength
THE RACECOURSE 3pm WREXHAM v FC HALIFAX TOWN WREXHAM’S promotion charge resumes this afternoon with lowly FC Halifax Town the visitors to the Racecourse.
The Dragons’ 2-0 win at struggling Guiseley last Saturday took them back to the National League summit on goal difference as they also took advantage of Macclesfield and Aldershot not being in action.
And manager Dean Keates has moved to further bolster his striking options this week with the addition to the squad of Jonathan Franks.
Franks had been a free agent after leaving Hartlepool last month and joins up with Wrexham until the end of the season.
“My contract ended in midJanuary and was unable to resign because Hartlepool are not allowed to sign anybody, so here I am,” he said.
“Dean Keates picked up the phone and made me feel wanted, so I came straight down.”
The ex-Middlesbrough man will also add further competition for places in attack alongside the likes of 13-goal top scorer Chris Holroyd, Scott Boden and Scott Quigley.
Former TNS man Quigley, on loan from Blackpool, should be back in contention for today’s game after missing the match at Guiseley as a precaution after feeling his hamstring during Wrexham’s goalless draw at Gateshead on January 30.
Keates should also have a near full-strength squad to pick from with only midfielder Mark Carrington, who has a back problem, now on the sidelines.
And, having added Franks, the Dragons boss is delighted to have more options.
He said: “They are a great changing room, a great bunch of lads, they are honest and are at it every day, so it can only be good come Saturday and it keeps people on their toes.
“You can’t rest on your laurels and expect to be in the team week in, week out if you are not performing.
“I’ve always said, if you are performing every Saturday, great, but it is also what you do Monday to Friday, and your habits.
“I want good habits at the football club and that is how they have been and that has got us into a decent position – but it needs to continue.”
The sides played out a goalless draw in the reverse fixture at the Shay back on October 3, while Halifax are currently 19th in the table, two places and four points above the drop zone.