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Page last updated at 13:12 GMT, Tuesday, 24 March 2009

Saunders' career gamble on Reds

Dean Saunders

By Peter Shuttleworth

Dean Saunders has entered a crucial period of his fledgling managerial career and football fans of the entire Welsh nation should be hanging on his every result.

His progress in the Racecourse hot-seat should be of interest beyond Wrexham's fan-base, for the 44-year-old coach is widely-regarded as the national team manager in waiting.

Saunders is the man the Football Association of Wales are grooming to take over from current boss John Toshack when he feels it is time to pass the managerial baton on.

Stoke City supremo Tony Pulis and Coventry City chief Chris Coleman are also proud Welshmen who may be interested in succeeding Toshack, who is still very much in the middle of his Wales rebuilding program.

Dean Saunders and John Toshack
It is a chance for Dean to show what he is made of...it is a good introduction into football management

Wales manager John Toshack

But as Saunders is former Liverpool striker Toshack's assistant, he seems to be in pole position.

A universally-loved footballer - especially in the FA of Wales corridors of power - Saunders is renowned for his enthusiasm, hard-work and professional attitude.

So Welsh soccer chiefs and fans alike will watch with keen interest how the former Wales international striker deals with Wrexham's crisis of confidence as he tries to inspire the country's oldest football club back into the League.

Although Saunders has coached in the Premier League as Graeme Souness' assistant at Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, he is a managerial rookie.

Racecourse chairman Geoff Moss, though, gambled on giving his golfing buddy the task of rescuing Wrexham from non-league obscurity in its first season in football's doldrums.

Saunders' honeymoon period, after replacing Brian Little, lasted an impressive four months as he lost just one of his first 16 Wrexham games.

However, Wrexham's charge towards the Blue Square Premier play-offs and potential Football League resurrection has been abruptly halted by an unwanted run of just one win in nine games.

The Dragons have run out of puff, now Saunders must show he has the man-management skills and tactical nous to inspire a second coming.

Dean Saunders
Dean Saunders scored 22 goals in his 75 welsh international caps

A player and coach of top-class pedigree, he risked his managerial reputation and future Wales job by joining the Reds as he is more used to working with top-class players at Premier League and international level.

Now the difficulty for Saunders is getting players who are not as naturally talented as him to listen, learn and understand rather than just wanting his autograph.

"It is a good introduction into football management," said Welsh managerial mentor Toshack.

"Now he now understands that there is no magic formula and that is very difficult at any level.

"Wrexham, unfortunately, haven't been able to maintain their charge and it is looking for increasingly difficult for them to get into the play-offs."

Saunders was no footballing genius but he made up for that with in an unerring desire, a never-say-side attitude and heart that made him a national hero, fourth in Wales' all-time top-scorers list.

Wrexham, whose defeat to Kidderminster on Monday leaves them seven points outside the Blue Square Premier play-offs, require assistance from other teams to drop points and themselves going on a phenomenal winning run - minus their injured top-scorer Marc Williams.

Toshack, who himself went to the bottom of the football league to cut his managerial teeth at Swansea City, is a big advocate of young managers servicing their apprenticeships down the divisions away from the footballing limelight.

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And Welsh football will soon find out if former Liverpool and Aston Villa goal-getter Saunders has the managerial mettle to pull through when the going gets tough.

"He must have thought this management game is easy this after his early results," said former Real Madrid coach Toshack.

"But he has quickly found out that it is a tough old business wherever you are.

"Dean is an enthusiastic and bubbly character but injuries and decisions that go against you all take their toll and it's something you've got to come to terms with.

"It is a chance for Dean to show what he is made of and we keep our fingers crossed that it does work out for both Dean and Wrexham."

Saunders knew how tough it was at the top, now he understands how tough it is at the bottom.

The man affectionately known as 'Deano' always loved a scrap as a player, here's his first one as a manager.



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see also
Saunders picks country over club
21 Mar 09 |  Wrexham
Saunders creates Wrexham history
15 Nov 08 |  Non League
Saunders denies two-job conflict
03 Oct 08 |  Wrexham
Saunders concedes Wrexham gamble
03 Oct 08 |  Wrexham
Saunders is new Wales number two
30 Jun 07 |  Internationals
Saunders joins Newcastle
08 Sep 04 |  Newcastle
Saunders to coach Blackburn
22 May 03 |  Blackburn
Saunders calls it a day
18 May 01 |  Wales
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales


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