The Wrexham coach admits that there is a positive vibe around The Racecourse as Wrexham prepare for their first season in the Blue Square Premier.

Although happy with the way pre-season has developed, Foyle said Wrexham have got to produce the goods when the league campaign begins against much-fancied Stevenage Borough in 11 days time.

"Pre-season has gone well against some good opposition," said Foyle today. "We have not embarrassed ourselves and kept a few clean sheets, although we have got a bit of forward work to do.

"There is a buoyancy around the camp and everyone is positive. But on August 9, the players have to deliver - talk is cheap.

"Preparation has been good in pre-season, exactly how we wanted.

"We want to be up there and we've got the players all fighting for places. Team spirit is a lot healthier now.

"There have been a lot of negatives over the last three years so it would be nice to turn that around and have a positive campaign for the fans, owner and most of all the players."

After facing opening day opponents Stevenage, Wrexham then take on three teams - York City, Rushden and Diamonds and Oxford United - who are all expected to be challenging for promotion.

But Foyle said Wrexham's tricky opening sequence of games was not a bad thing.

"We know it won't be easy and it is a hard start," said Foyle. "No disrespect to the teams that came up but if we were to beat them 3-0, we would not get a feel of the sides in the league that are likely to be challenging at the top.

"We will know we are in a battle in the opening weeks and that is good."

Two separate teams were in action on Saturday as manager Brian Little took the opportunity to give all his fit players a 90 minute run-out.

Wrexham lost 2-1 against The New Saints in the morning despite taking a first minute lead through Marc Williams, but Carl Tremarco and Shaun Whalley scored their first goals for the club as the Reds beat Colwyn Bay in the afternoon.

And after playing the first three summer friendlies at The Racecourse against Football League opposition, Foyle said it was important to play away matches, with Wrexham ending their pre-season with a trip to Stafford Rangers on Saturday.

"Most of the lads had only played 45 minutes and we did well first half against The New Saints but it went wrong second half," said Foyle.

"Colwyn Bay was a typical non-league game and it was competitive, and we did well there.

"Rather than play all games on the magnificent Racecourse pitch we wanted to take some games away so the lads know we are in non-league."

With no match until Saturday, Foyle said the emphasis this week was still on fitness work and the players were put through a series of gruelling tests at Colliers Park in training yesterday.

But Wrexham will also focus on game plan ahead of the Stafford clash.

"It is a natural progression in pre-season and I would say we are about 75 per cent there," said Foyle. "We have done a lot of hard work and the gaffer has said we will start picking it up more in the next week and give it a good blast.

"We have not got a game so we can concentrate on shape, set pieces and general work on the team."

Striker Simon Brown returned to training yesterday after recovering from a thigh strain that has ruled him out of action since the opening friendly against Wolves, and he was joined by defender Nat Brown who was not involved at the weekend because of illness.

Defender Darran Kempson and left-sided Neil Taylor picked up minor knocks on Saturday while centre-back Gareth Evans is likely to be out for between two and four weeks after suffering an ankle ligament injury in training on Thursday.

"We have got a few niggles but nothing serious," added Foyle.

"Simon missed a couple of games but he has been doing some running and he looked sharp."

Kempson, a summer signing from Shrewsbury Town, has made a big impression in the three friendlies he has featured in.

And Kempson is delighted to have come through those matches without Wrexham conceding a goal.

"I am happy with the way it has gone so far in pre-season," said Kempson.

"We are working hard in training, we are getting fitter and going into games with ideas of what we want to achieve.

"The games have gone alright. I have had two halves and a full 90 minutes for Wrexham and we have not conceded so it is going well for the defence.

"Colwyn Bay was a bit of a tester, very physical, but we rose to the challenge and did not shut off.

"They had a couple of chances in the second half but we kept them out, and we were still well in control."

Ask Brian

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