SO another two Wrexham fixtures are postponed because of international call-ups.
Keeper Walsh and midfielder Thomas will be in the Wales Under-21 squad for the games against Armenia at Merthyr and Norway in Dremman, while new boy Holmes will be with the Northern Ireland Under-21s for their fixtures away to Denmark and at home against Iceland.
As a result the club has invoked its rights and cancelled the away trip to Reading (this Tuesday) and the home game against Bury (this Friday).
The fact that manager Flynn is able to invoke the five-day ruling is testimony to the fact that he has a talented squad. Add Lawrence, Edwards and Sam to Walsh, Thomas and Holmes; throw in rookie right-back Warren - who must be on the verge of some kind of international recognition with the Republic of Ireland; and you've got a high-pedigree set of players.
Which other second division club can point to three current full internationals and three regular Under-21 performers on their books?
I am always very pleased to tell friends who support other teams that "Wrexham's game is off because of international call-ups". They always look at me blank and say: "International call-ups?" And I reply: "Yes, that's the quality of our current squad - an array of regular international performers!"
However, I must say there is nothing that irritates me more than postponed fixtures. I don't care whether it's rain, snow, fuel crisis, foot and mouth disease, or even international call-ups, rearranged games are a curse.
They can really spoil the flow of a season. After today's game we will have no league fixture for a fortnight. I think this is bad for fans (who get bored) and bad for players (who can lose rhythm). Obviously Wrexham's games against Reading and Bury will be rescheduled - but they will no doubt add to fixture congestion later in the season.
We also lose ground on other clubs. If we get beaten today (let's hope not) we could be 14 points off the second division leaders when we next kick a ball. Of course we'll have games in hand on other clubs, but who wants games in hand when points on the board are all that count?
In this context we must remember what star midfielder Ferguson said at the Fans Forum meeting in May. He indicated that he would be in favour of Friday night home fixtures because if Wrexham were on a winning run it would give them a psychological boost over other teams.
I sense the opposite is true when Reds matches are cancelled - it gives the team a psychological problem.
Perhaps most frustrating, the Reading/Bury postponements mean that it will be September 8 before superman Trundle makes his 2001-2 league debut. And to be honest, I'm really not sure I can wait that long.
I understand why Flynn chooses to postpone fixtures. He's got a small squad and he's got to play safe. I just feel that sometimes the benefits of cancelling games might be outweighed by the drawbacks.
PS. Best wishes to Wrexham Chairman Pryce Griffiths who is currently recovering from illness.
