2005/06 Cup Progress FA Cup First Round vs Port Vale (a) - lost 2-1. Carling Cup First Round vs Doncaster Rovers (h) - lost 1-0. Football League Trophy Northern Section First Round vs Blackpool (a) - lost 4-3 after extra time.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Mark Jones (midfield) - 15 goals.
Players In Neil Roberts (Doncaster Rovers - Free), Chris Llewellyn (Hartlepool United - Free), Ryan Valentine (Darlington - Free), Steve Evans (Total Network Solutions - Free).
Players Out Andy Holt (Northampton Town - Free), Dean Bennett (Chester City - Free), Jon Walters (Chester City - Free).
Wrexham tried in vain last season to secure a place in the play offs and ended the season in a mid table position. Despite this, manager Denis Smith says he is assembling a squad capable of pushing for promotion next season.
Two Wrexham old boys, Neil Roberts and Chris Llewellyn have returned to the Racecourse Ground following stints away from North Wales. Former striker Roberts arrived on a free transfer from Doncaster Rovers after his contract was ended by mutual consent. Welsh international Roberts was sold to Wigan Athletic for ?450,000 in 2000, before he moved on to Doncaster Rovers in 2004 after loan spells with Bradford City and Hull City.
Llewellyn first arrived at Wrexham in July 2003, but was sold to Hartlepool United two years later. However, Llewellyn played just 24 league games for the Monkey Hangers last season and his like Roberts, his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.
Wrexham born defender Steve Evans has swapped the Welsh Premier League for League Two after joining on a two year contract from Total Network Solutions. Evans joined the Welsh champions from Crewe Alexandra in February 2000 after starting his career with West Bromwich Albion.
Striker Lee McEvilly apologised to Wrexham fans for almost leaving the club to join League One side Bradford City. The former Rochdale forward looked set to join the Valley Parade outfit but the Bantams delayed their offer of a contract and McEvilly signed a new deal with the Dragons. McEvilly signed a new one year contract with the club but Jon Walters left after one season for local rivals Chester City.
Verdict The return of former players Neil Roberts and Chris Llewellyn is a boost for supporters but a play off place may be out of reach this season, with a mid table finish a more likely achievement for the club expected to come out of administration in time for the new campaign.
Odds: 12/1
Last Five Seasons 2005/06 - 24 (League One Relegated), 2004/05 - 14 (League One), 2003/04 - 22 (Championship, Relegated), 2002/03 - 17 (Championship), 2001/02 - 18 (Championship).
2005/06 Cup Progress FA Cup Fourth Round vs Stoke City (a) - lost 2-1. Carling Cup First Round vs Crystal Palace (a) - lost 3-0. Football League Trophy Southern Section Semi Final vs Swansea City (a) - lost 6-5 on penalties with the score at 2-2 after extra time.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Matty Fryatt (striker) - 14 goals.
Players In Tony Bedeau (Torquay United - Free), Martin Butler (Rotherham United - Free), Michael Dobson (Brentford - Free), Clayton Ince (Coventry City - Free), Hector Same (Port Vale - Free).
Players Out Daryl Taylor (Bournemouth - Free), Steve Staunton (Released), Taiwo Atieno (Released), Dean Coleman (Released), Andy Oakes (Released).
Walsall finished rock bottom of League One last season but are one of the favourites for promotion according to the bookmakers. Club captain Dean Keates revealed the Saddlers endured a punishing pre-season training regime in the hope it will give them an extra edge when the new season begins in August.
A chronic goals shortage was one of Walsall's weaknesses last season and there was nobody to replace top goal scorer Matty Fryatt when he departed for Leicester City during the January transfer window. Manager Richard Money has addressed this during the summer and signed two new strikers.
Striker Tony Bedeau arrived on a free transfer after finishing as the Gulls' top goal scorer last season with 11 goals. The 27 year old Grenada international made almost 350 appearances for the club since making his debut in 1995.
Rotherham United striker Martin Butler, who began his career with Walsall and made his debut for the senior side in the 1993-94 campaign has returned to the Bescot Stadium on a free transfer.
Money made Brentford captain Michael Dobson his third signing of the close season following the defender's release from the League One side. Dobson was Brentford's longest serving player and made nearly 200 first-team appearances for the club.
The return of former Derby County midfielder Darren Wrack will be like a new signing. He has been sidelined since breaking his leg in early September 2005 and is almost ready to make his comeback after 12 months out of the game. Midfielder Michael Standing has left Walsall by mutual consent despite signing a two year contract extension in May 2005.
Verdict Manager Richard Money has used the transfer market well this summer and the Saddlers should be good enough to secure a play off place at the very least, although the supporters will expect a top three finish.
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