WREXHAM have added a third new player to their ranks as they look to bounce back from a near disastrous season.
Former Hearts youngster and Northern Ireland Under-21s international Conall Murtagh has followed goalkeeper Anthony Williams and striker Michael Proctor in signing at the Racecourse.
Murtagh, 21, still has a year to complete of a biomedical sciences course at university, will combine studies with League Two football and has the full backing of Dragons management duo Brian Carey and Steve Weaver.
And the Belfast-born youngster admitted it was a dream move to join Wrexham.
“I’m buzzing at the moment,” he said. “I’ve come down and seen the size of the club and this is just a dream come true for me.
“You know what football is like, I wanted to get my studies under my belt, and Wrexham are allowing me to mix them together and also giving me another year after that, so it’s unbelievable.
“The club is massive and the training ground is superb and everything is top-draw.”
Murtagh started his career with Ballymena United and Crusaders, before joining Hearts in the Scottish Premier League.
He made his debut on loan at Raith Rovers in January 2005, and following his release from Hearts, joined Sligo Rovers, before starting a degree in Manchester University, where he was also playing for Altrincham Town.
The midfielder joined Connah’s Quay Nomads in 2005/06 season before signing at Rhyl where he caught the eye of Wrexham.
And while he has become Wrexham’s third summer signing, he is still yet to meet manager Carey in person.
He added: “I haven’t met him yet, I’ve just been chatting to him on the phone, obviously because he’s away at the moment. But it sounds a really friendly club and all the boys sound really nice and everyone has made me feel really welcome.
“Hopefully I can come in and work hard and play the way I can and hopefully help them push for promotion next year.
“All along it would have been a disaster, considering the size of the club, had they been relegated. A club like Wrexham don’t belong down there, so hopefully from here on in it’s only upwards from now on.”
While he is still to met Carey, his assistant at the Racecourse – Weaver – was full of praise for the young Northern Irish player.
“We’ve been tracking Conall for a couple of years since he first left Scotland,” said Weaver, former head of the club’s academy. “But at the time we didn’t feel it was maybe the right time for him.
“But obviously now he’s had a good season in the Welsh Premier and he’s at the right age and level to come back into the League.
“This club has got a fine history of bringing these players through. Karl Connolly came through from non-league, Lee Trundle came out the non-league, Andy Morrell came down from the North East where he was playing non-league, and we don’t think that’s an issue, we just feel if you are good enough.
“We know now that Conall has had a good grounding from where he’s been playing at Connah’s Quay and at Rhyl and we feel he’s ready now to give it a go at League Football.
“He’s mobile and a good footballer and he’s one that we’re looking to develop along with a number of the young players. I don’t think he’ll come in and play 40 games this season, I’d like him to, but he’s one for the future and that’s why we’ve given him a two-year deal. Over the first 12 months hopefully he can get himself settled in and happy and then take it on from there.”
Murtagh becomes the second ex-Welsh Premier player to sign at Wrexham in 12 months and follows former TNS defender Steve Evans, who joined the Dragons for the start of last season.
Evans has been a huge hit since joining the League Two outfit and as well as being named player of the season has also won his first full caps at international level and is likely to play some part in Wales’ crucial Euro 2008 qualifier in Cardiff today against the Czech Republic.
Murtagh added: “Steve won player of the season and has been great for Wrexham. It’s always a gamble signing anyone, but hopefully I can do well and help the club.”
