MARK HOWARD hopes Arthur Okonkwo signs for Wrexham - even if it means the veteran goalkeepers gets less game-time.

Okonkwo enjoyed a successful season-long at The Racecourse from Arsenal, making 36 appearances as the Reds finished runners-up in League Two to secure back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club's history.

The Premier League giants yesterday announced that Okonkwo is one of a number of players that won't be offered a new deal when their contracts come to an end on June 30.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has spoken highly of Okonkwo, who was named in the League Two Team of the Season, but the 22-year-old is expected to have a number of clubs interested in him.

Howard has been offered a new contract by the Reds' boss and although Okonkwo making his move to north Wales permanent would meant less opportunities for the 37-year-old, he would love to have his team-mate on board next season.

"Okonkwo is an unbelievable talent and has all the attributes to develop more and he will only get better," said Howard, who was restricted to 10 appearances in all competitions this season.

"Personally and for the club it would be great if he returns but ultimately the future is in his own hands.

"He will have a lot of other suitors but for him, whatever decision he makes, I hope he just builds on what he has done at Wrexham.

"He earned his place in Team of the Year for League Two which is incredible as he missed a fair few games.

"I’ve agreed a deal to stay on and it was a dead easy decision. The role I played, I had to adapt my own motivation of playing week in, week out, to help Arthur. 

"Arthur developed as the season went on and to be fair there weren't many opportunities for me to get my place back in the team. 

"So I adapted my role to get the best out of him and help Aidan Davison, the goalkeeping coach, as much as I could. I still played 10 games in the season. 

"Of course I’d love to have played more but that isn’t always the case in football. But I always wanted to sign and stay on at Wrexham and to be part of the culture they are creating and building for the future."

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