BRIAN LITTLE’S Wrexham overhaul has stepped up a gear with the appointment of former Port Vale boss Martin Foyle as first-team coach.

The Racecourse boss made room for his new man by dispensing with the services of coach Steve Weaver, chief scout Brian Prandle and assistant physiotherapist Jenni Taylor and confirmed that former manager Brian Carey would continue in the role as his assistant.

Explaining the decision, Little said: “I’ve got my 23-game hat on now and I felt I would give myself a better chance of keeping the team up with a couple of my own people around me.

“I have spoken to Martin a lot in recent weeks, he’s watched us play a couple of times and we have talked about what needs to be done. We have bounced our ideas off each other very well and I believe it will be a good combination.

“The decision in no way reflects badly on those who are leaving the club and I’d like to thank them for their services, but in the situation I have inherited I must do whatever I think it takes to survive in the Football League.”

The Dragons’ boss said he had not worked in the past with Foyle, who left Port Vale by mutual consent last September following a poor start to the season that included a Carling Cup defeat at Wrexham’s hands.

But he added: “I have worked against him on loads of occasions and I know how active he has been in buying, selling and producing players.

“Myself and Brian (Carey) met up with Martin earlier in the week and I feel that we have found a bond of chemistry between us that will work to the club’s benefit.”

A former striker, 44-year-old Foyle spent the majority of his playing career at Vale Park and is the club’s post-war record goal-scorer. When injuries ended his career in 2000, he became youth-team coach and stepped up to manager in 2004.

After taking his first training session yesterday with the Wrexham players, he said: “I’m delighted to be back in football.

“I’ve had three months at home with the wife and that makes me doubly determined to come back and do my utmost to keep Wrexham in the league.

“The team are in a position they don’t want to be in and if I can help them out that’s what I want to do. Brian Little is a hugely experienced manager but I feel I’ve also got a lot to offer.

“Unfortunately my chance has come at the expense of someone else, but sometimes it has to be done and it’s part and parcel of football.”

And Foyle is optimistic about the club’s prospects.

“I thought the players heads might be down when I came in this morning and that I’d be working hard on motivation,” he added.

“But that’s not the case and I’ve discovered they are a super bunch of lads whose attitude is spot-on. There are enough good players here to get us out of trouble and while the club is down in terms of results that can quickly change.

“I have seen a lot of League Two games this season and I’ve seen Wrexham several times. A lot of their defeats have been down to mistakes and if we can eradicate those, work collectively as a group and have a bit more nous we should be able to move on quickly.”

The new coach also praised Wrexham’s fans, saying: “I’ve seen about half a dozen games now and it struck me how the fans have stuck with the players through thick and thin.

“It was pleasing to see and that’s one of the things that attracted me to this job, because having the fans onside is half the battle.”

Little, meanwhile, is keeping his cards close to his chest in terms of strengthening his squad.

“I’ve nothing to say on that at the moment,” he said. “I have spoken to a lot of people and we have started looking at exactly what is or isn’t possible.

“I’ll be speaking to the club owners again and there’s a lot happening behind the scenes involving myself, Brian (Carey) and Martin (Foyle).”

Wrexham are not in action this weekend because scheduled League Two opponents Peterborough United are involved in the third round of the FA Cup. The Dragons’ next test is the FAW Premier Cup quarter-final at Llanelli on Wednesday.

The Racecourse boss admitted he would like at least one new face on board before travelling to Stebonheath Park.

“We have got to try and take the club forward and a phone call at any time could change things,” he added. “Hopefully someone could be here by then but nothing is certain.”