DIXIE MCNEIL didn’t miss a home game this season - and he can’t wait for new League One campaign to kick off.

McNeil’s only slight moan is that he wishes he was still playing!

“I can’t wait for next season to start,” said club legend McNeil, a former player, manager and now club president after making Wrexham his home since moving from Hereford United back in 1977.

Deadeye Dixie, who scored 88 times in 222 appearances for the Reds, celebrated the Third Division title and Welsh Cup double in his first season at The Racecourse.

McNeil, who scored 25 goals in his first season at Wrexham, would later go on to become manager for a four-year spell from 1985 to 1989.

“I’ve been here a long time and I know I’ve seen the good times but I’ve seen the bad ones too,” said McNeil. “But what’s happening at this club now is fantastic and I’m just so pleased for the fans.

“Their support home and away is brilliant and they deserve to be celebrating. They have got right behind the team and do so for every game.

“The football is good, the atmosphere at The Racecourse is good and I think Phil Parkinson has done a terrific job.

“I know he’s had the money but you’ve still got to get the players to play and he’s more than done that.”

With Hollywood movie stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bank-rolling Wrexham’s rise up the football pyramid, it’s in stark contrast to McNeil’s final days as manager at the club back in 1989.

McNeil resigned as manager after a cost-cutting away trip to Maidstone United where he and his players had to take cars, trains and taxis down to Kent where, not surprisingly, the Reds suffered a 2-0 defeat.

That’s totally opposite to how Wrexham run things these days - and they even had an overnight stop for the final away game of the season at Crewe Alexandra!