Wrexham Football Club Appoint Dean Keates As Manager

Wrexham Football Club have appointed former player and current caretaker manager Dean Keates as permanent first team manager.

Keates is a former captain of Wrexham and has played over 150 times for the reds. After leaving Wrexham he has played for Rhyl, and following Gary Mills sacking recently Keates re-joined as a joint manager.

Keates has been appointed on a 18 month deal, with interviews taking place over the last 72 hours and a deal formalised late last night.

A press conference is expected for around 4pm this afternoon for the formal ‘unveiling’ and short question and answer session – if invited and 4G/wifi allowing we hope to live stream it so check back later!

Wrexham AFC Director John Mills commented: “We are delighted to welcome Dean to Wrexham AFC as the Club’s new permanent manager following his period leading the interim management team.As expected, there was huge interest in the position of Wrexham AFC manager but we believe we have chosen the outstanding candidate to take the Club forward, to match our own aspirations and those of our supporters.

We are sure Dean will receive the usual fantastic support from our supporters and we now look forward with real enthusiasm for the rest of this season and onwards towards next season as we tackle the many challenges ahead.”

Club Chief Executive Don Bircham wrote in his programme notes on Saturday that feedback from fans had been noted and outlined via an eight point plan, not only on a possible appointment but what is expected of any new manager. A minimum expectation of play-offs, along with commitment to club and community events was stated. The club’s Centre of Excellence is to be used with a pathway for young local players to be brought through into the first team. The new manager will also be expected to live locally, and be expected to know and scout the lower leagues.

Former manager Gary Mills has raised eyebrows recently after his move to York citing he did not want information on heart rates on players, just desire, similarly his laissez faire training sessions were subject to much rumour locally. Such rudimentary views of sports science are now unwelcome at the Racecourse with Bircham noting, “The successful candidate will satisfy the recruitment board about the frequency and intensity of training and modern training methods.”

The Keates era as sole manager begins tonight when Wrexham play Barrow at the Racecourse.