BRIAN CAREY admitted he wants to be a part of the club’s future ahead of today’s crucial six-pointer with Macclesfield.
The Dragons boss, who took over the reigns at Wrexham following the sacking of Denis Smith in January, leads the Racecourse club into a huge match at Paul Ince’s League Two strugglers.
Earlier in the week Carey admitted that the Dragons lowly position was hampering him from making any plans for next season.
But yesterday he stressed that whatever the outcome of the relegation battle he was hoping to be involved in the club’s future.
He said: “I’ve got an idea of what I’m going to do in the summer, but at the moment I’m not looking that far ahead. My main priority, in fact the only priority, is keeping this club in the league.
“We’ve got a job to do and we are working hard to make sure that we pick up the results that will keep us up.”
When asked about his own future and role at the club, Carey said: “I’ve been at the club along time.
“I’ve been a part of the club’s past and I want to be part of their future.”
That future, however, could be in the Conference as Wrexham teeter dangerously close to the drop zone.
The Dragons are out of the bottom two by virtue of goal difference from Boston, and while they have a game in hand, it is points on the board that count.
And Carey has a few injury and suspension problems still to iron out ahead of today’s game at Moss Rose.
Defenders Steve Evans and Ryan Valentine are both back in contention after serving lengthy suspensions for straight red cards. But Chris Llewellyn still has a game to serve and Danny Williams, who collected his 10th booking of the season in last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Mansfield Town, starts a two-match ban.
Neil Roberts has not made it back to fitness after a calf strain forced him off after little more than five minutes last week, and both Robbie Garrett and Andy Fleming failed to report for training yesterday as a virus continued to wreak havoc at Colliers Park.
Gareth Evans is another who will be on the sidelines after fracturing his cheekbone in the reserves midweek 2-1 win at Rochdale.
But a defiant Carey was adamant the off-the-field problems have not affected his build up to today’s crunch clash.
“We are waiting to hear about Andy Fleming and Robbie Garrett,” said Carey. “But the other problems we’ve known about all week so we’ve had to deal with them and get on with it.
“Tomorrow is another huge match, but at the moment they’re all huge for us.
“Easter weekend is a big weekend of football and we’ve got to make sure we pick up something.
“We’ve got to make sure we come out on top.
“We’ve got to try and win the game or at least continue to keep on picking up points like we have been in the last couple of games.
“The performances have been a lot better but we need now to continue in the same way.”
Carey was at Manchester United at the same time as Silkmen boss Ince and will know all about the former England captain’s fighting spirit.
Looking ahead to today’s game he added: “Macclesfield looked dead and buried at one stage, but have pulled themselves out of it.
“But I must admit we don’t look at other teams and we can’t worry about what other teams are doing. We’ve just got to get on with the job in hand and that’s winning our own games.
“There’s no point in going places to set your stall out for a draw. We’ve got to go out and play for the win.
“If we do that then the results will start to come.
“I know Paul (Ince) and the job he’s done at Macclesfield.
“He’s a positive person and won’t let them get down on themselves, but like I said we can’t worry about other teams – it is about what we do.”
And Carey was delighted to see Joey Jones’ reserve-team players pushing hard and pressing for a place in the first team.
“I think the reserves have won four of their last six games,” he said.
“And they are putting in some really good performances, so that is ideal for me, because there are some lads that are pushing for a place in the first team and that as a manager is exactly what you want.”
Today will also be a landmark occasion for Dragons defender Shaun Pejic, who makes his 150th appearance for the club.
Hereford-born Pejic, 24, said: “I wasn’t aware of it until the other day when someone told me about it, but I’m really chuffed.
“It’s really good from my personal point of view and I’m quite excited about it, but it’s more than that, it’s another huge game that we’ve either got to get a point out of or even three points.
“I’ve been in and out of the team a little bit this season with injury, but when I’ve been fit I’ve been in the team and I’m pleased that obviously Brian taking over has kept faith in me, and I’m just pleased to be playing.”
And Pejic was confident Wrexham can move away from their current predicament.
“We’ve had a good month performance wise,” he added.
“We are playing well and picking up some points, but we know we have got to keep that going.
“I think that if you look at the clubs down in the relegation zone and you look at their squads and our squads, I would say that we’ve got a better squad of them all.”
He added: “But obviously you’ve got to take that into the games on Saturdays and perform.”
