WREXHAM legend Mickey Thomas reckons the best deal the Reds can come up with this summer is one to bring back the Kop.
The Kop has been closed for more than four years and former Wrexham and Wales star Thomas says it’s imperative to re-open one of the most iconic parts of The Racecourse Stadium.
There were plans to upgrade the 5,000 terrace as part of the Racecourse redevelopment but the behind the goal Kop has not reached its full capacity since 5,000 packed in there for the 3-1 win against Boston United when the club staved off relegation from the Football League on the final day of the 2007 season.
Thomas said: “I watched my first game in the old Pigeon Loft stand on the Kop - Wales v Scotland - and I played in front of a packed Kop week in, week out during my days as a player with Wrexham and Wales.
“It’s a crucial part of the ground. It’s iconic and I know the supporters loved watching the game from there.
“I loved the Kop and ask any other ex-Wrexham players and they’ll say the same. I know Joey Jones thinks the same. He has a great allegiance to the Kop but only because most of his passes used to end up in there!
“Seriously though, it would be great if there were plans to re-open the Kop, to have fans back behind the goal would be a very popular move.
“I remember playing for Wrexham and we’d always kick towards the Kop or The Town End as we used to call it in the second half.
“We also had a tremendous record with Wales playing at Wrexham. I can’t remember losing there.”
Any plans to re-open the Kop could be boosted by reports that the home nations, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, are considering a joint bid to host the Euro 2020 Championships.
Wales’ immediate aim is to qualify for the World Cup Finals in Brazil in 2014 and one player who is looking to further enhance his international career is Reds’ striker Rob Ogleby.
The former Hearts striker, who signed a new one-year deal at The Racecourse last week, has been a regular in the Welsh Under-21s set-up for the past 18 months.
The U-21s are once again looking to make the finals of the UEFA Championship but they’ll be doing it without the man who has been their mentor for the past eight years - Brian Flynn.
The former Wrexham manager was told by the Football Association of Wales that his contract would not be renewed and his last day in the job was on Thursday.
For Ogleby, the decision came as a surprise: “Brian has been in the job for a while so it was a bit of a shock,” he said.
“No-one was expecting it because he is ‘Mr Wales’ and he has been in the job forever.
“It is football though and things change, but he is a top man and he has helped me quite a bit.
“It is sad to see him leave but I am sure we will still see him around the place.”
On Flynn’s coaching style, he added: “He likes to get the ball on the floor which is good and he just tells you to pass the ball and enjoy the game because playing football is the best job in the world.”
The FAW have yet to name Flynn’s replacement, but Ogleby is aiming to impress whoever gets the job with his performances for Wrexham.
He said: “Hopefully the new manager will be impressed by me and I can get a starting role.”
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