We’re not doomed insists Dragons ace Llewellyn

Mar 29 2008 by Darren Devine, Western Mail

WALES cap Chris Llewellyn insists the Wrexham players are refusing to accept they are doomed to drop into the Conference.

Today’s League Two contest with Barnet marks the beginning of a week that could go a long way to determining where the Dragons start the next campaign.

On Monday, they face second-bottom Mansfield at Field Mill before next weekend’s meeting with Macclesfield, opponents also fighting for their League Two lives.

Llewellyn said, “The situation doesn’t look the best, but all the lads are keeping positive.

“We’ve got nine games, including three this week, against the teams around us, so we’ll probably be in a better situation to judge what we’re going to do after that.”

However, with the Dragons seven points shy of safety, Llewellyn admits the task ahead is grim, but he does not accept it’s hopeless.

Brian Little’s team have two games in hand on third-bottom Notts County and three on Macclesfield, who are eight points above them in the League Two table.

“We’ve accepted that it was going to be very tough since Christmas and nothing has really changed on that front,” he said.

“We know it’s going to be difficult, but we’ve got games in hand and, if we pick up points against the teams immediately above us, it could give us a decent chance.”

Llewellyn believes Little’s indication earlier this week that he wants to stay on – whether or not the Dragons go down – will help the club come back stronger next season.

He said, “It’s probably good that he’s shown his commitment to the club whatever happens. It might create a bit of stability in the management, which can only benefit the club.”

But Llewellyn knows that the picture would be far less certain on the playing side should the Dragons drop through the trapdoor.

When league clubs are relegated to the Conference, gate receipts inevitably fall and a player exodus invariably follows.

“It’s always a possibility that when any club gets relegated there will be changes in personnel, but we’re not even thinking about that at the minute,” he said.

“We’re all staying positive and, if we can all stick together, then we’ll have a better time in the Football League next season.”

Llewellyn, 28, is hoping that with Barnet already looking safe, but too far off the play-offs to have any hope of promotion, the Dragons’ extra motivation will see them through today.

But he knows, as happened last weekend in the 2-0 defeat at Brentford, teams with little to play for can still prove difficult opponents.

“It’s always a worry that when teams have got nothing to play for they’re more relaxed, they play a more open and expansive game and can be more difficult,” he added.

“But we’re definitely going to go there all guns blazing and, hopefully, start a sequence of winning games that we need to get out of this mess.”

Neil Roberts (illness) and Danny Sonner (achilles) are both sidelined for Wrexham today, while Barnet are at full-strength for the Underhill contest.