WREXHAM AFC: Fowler’s tipping Reds to do well in League One
LEE FOWLER believes the current Wrexham squad is strong enough as it is to be competitive in League One next season.
That’s not to say that the former Reds’ captain believes nothing will change between now and the big kick-off in tier three.
Asked if Phil Parkinson’s side were strong enough to compete in League One, Fowler said: “100 per cent, because of how organised they are, I think they will do well. They will tweak a few things in certain areas and I think they can have a good go again.
“In League Two, Wrexham have probably got the biggest war chest. When you jump to League One, you’re competing with teams with more money than you. There’s some big teams in there.”
Fowler enjoyed two spells at The Racecourse during his playing career.
He first joined the Reds ahead of the 2011-12 season, when he played 29 times for the side, scoring three goals.
That was the campaign when Wrexham managed to accumulate a mammoth 98 points… and even that wasn’t enough to make sure of promotion back to The Football League after four years in non-league.
Boosted by the strike partnership of Jamie Vardy and Andy Mangan, it was Fleetwood Town who went on to secure the title that season, while Wrexham lost out to Luton Town in the play-offs.
Fowler had made the switch to Fleetwood by the end of the season, but he was back at The Racecourse for the 2015-16 campaign, scoring three times in 18 appearances.
The Reds ended that season in eighth position, 11 points adrift of the play-off positions.
Back then, Wrexham were a selling club, but Fowler says that’s not the case these days.
“Now, they haven’t go to sell players,” said Fowler, who has had a promotion season to savour himself as manager of Cymru Premier League-bound Flint Town United.
“Since the owners have took over, they have bought. I can’t remember the last players they sold.
“Mullin has stayed, Lee has stayed. It’s a far different club to what it was before.”
One potential exception to this rule could be young centre back Max Cleworth, who enjoyed a break-out campaign at the back in League Two.
“I think he’s got to the stage now where he’s ready to play in the Championship,” said Fowler. “He’s ticking off promotions and his value’s only going to grow.
“If there’s Championship teams or a Premiership team looking at him, the next season will be a pivotal one for Max.”
Fowler thinks clubs at a higher level may come knocking for the young centre back if the Reds are doing well next season.
While it was another successful season for Wrexham, that was also the case for Fowler at Flint.
He guided the Silkmen to promotion to the Cymru Premier League, 12 months on from their last day relegation from the Welsh domestic top flight.
“The aim was to get promoted back to the Welsh Premier,” said Fowler. “I have really enjoyed tier two. It has been really competitive.”
