WREXHAM midfielder Jeff Whitley thanked boss Brian Carey for resurrecting his stalling career.
The former Northern Ireland international is fast repaying the faith shown in him by Carey after giving Wrexham a precious relegation lifeline by scoring the all-important winning goal against Bristol Rovers at the weekend.
The 31-year-old has barely played first team football this season after being frozen out at Cardiff and having failed to make the grade during an unsuccessful loan spell at Stoke over Christmas.
But Whitley is finally making his mark in North Wales during a second spell at the Racecourse Ground, popping up four minutes before the final whistle to head home Shaun Pejic’s cross and destroy Rovers’ play-off hopes.
Whitley’s first goal for Wrexham leaves the Dragons just a point behind Boston with a game in hand and battling alongside Bury, Macclesfield and Accrington Stanley to beat the drop out of the Football League.
“On a personal level, going away from Cardiff was handy,” said Whitley. “And Stoke City didn’t give me a chance when I went on loan to them either.
“But Brian has offered me first-team football and it’s great to be back in the first team. The fitness trainer here has worked every single day with me and I’m starting to enjoy my football again.
“I’m absolutely delighted to get the goal, as you know I haven’t played a lot of football this year and it was great to get off the mark. More importantly, we’ve taken the three points and we can all sleep easier this week.
“The goal was massive for us, results haven’t gone our way and it’s a big three points.
“We’ve been conceding a lot of late goals away from home and it’s great to reverse that and actually score one ourselves for a change.
“As long as we keep fit and stay mentally prepared we’ll be okay. The new lads have only trained with us for two days and they’ve been brilliant already.”
Carey singled out veteran midfielder Whitley for special praise after his winning strike kept alive Wrexham’s hopes of sinking into the Conference.
The Wrexham boss is desperate to hang on to his star acquisition and build a successful side around Whitley next term.
“Jeff Whitley wasn’t brought in for his goals,” said Carey. “But he’s been running the show at the moment and that has been crucial for us.
“He didn’t have the best game but he’s a winner and he proved that at the end. We’re really looking to build this team around him.
“He’s enjoying his football at the tail end of his career and I thought he took his header very well. He’s a great lad and who knows what will happen for him at the end of the season?”
