SAM AISTON - WREXHAM CAN STILL GET OUT OF TROUBLE
Mark Currie - Daily Post

SAM AISTON, who was manager Brian Little's first Wrexham signing last November, is confident the Dragons can extend their recent run of good form over the Easter weekend.

The 32-year-old midfield player, who is equally at home on the flank, returned from injury last week as Little team's went close to overturning a 2-0 half-time deficit at Wycombe and he played a key role in the 2-1 weekend victory against Bury at the Racecourse.

The Adams Park defeat was only the second in 11 matches and Aiston sees no reason why Wrexham can't get results from both Saturday's trip to Brentford and the visit of Dagenham & Redbridge 48 hours later.

"It promises to be a massive weekend for us," he said yesterday. "And when you look at the opposition, we have a couple of games where we can definitely get something to at least stay in touch with the clubs around us or even make up ground.

"Bury were going well and, while any win in our position is a great one, it was a very good result for us because it kept us in the hunt and set everything up nicely for this weekend."

With Little not due to embark on detailed preparations for the Griffin Park clash until today, Aiston has no idea whether the Racecourse boss will stick with last weekend's 4-4-2 line-up or revert to 3-5-2.

"If I'm playing as a winger, 4-4-2 is obviously better for me but I don't know yet what we'll do Saturday because the gaffer tends to change things with certain games in mind and to cope with what is required," he added.

"But we are all in it together now regardless of which 11 players are picked to play in a specific match. We are all united in the knowledge that we need to start picking up a few wins."

But the veteran, who made his league debut for Sunderland 12 years ago, is in no doubt that the Dragons, who crashed 3-0 at Dagenham in December, will be hell bent on revenge at the Racecourse on Monday, which heralds the start of a hectic spell of matches between now and the season's end.

"We have a point to prove against Dagenham because we were awful down at their place and I'm sure we won't play anywhere near as badly again," he said. "Three points from that game would be particularly pleasing.

"We've then got a lot more games to come than some teams but I'd rather be playing midweek than training every day and getting stuck into the opposition. It's going to be a busy time but I'm really looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, Wrexham reserves crashed to defeat last night after a shambolic display against Morecambe, who edged the verdict in a 5-4 goal feast.

The Dragons should have been out of sight after 30 minutes, but had only an own goal and a Shaun Pejic header to show for their superiority.

They allowed Morecambe back into the game through Aaron Taylor before the break, and former Racecourse striker Jon Newby then levelled before winning the penalty from which Paul Lloyd put the visitors ahead.

Wrexham simply fell apart as Lloyd again and Taylor looked to have made the game safe, but goals in the final two minutes from Wes Baynes and Josh Johnson gave the scoreline a semblance of respect from the home side's point of view.

BROUGHTON HOPING TO AVOID UNWANTED HAT-TRICK WITH WREXHAM
Richard Williams - Wrexham Evening Leader

DREWE BROUGHTON is pulling out all the stops to ensure he is not relegated from the Football League for a third consecutive season.

Broughton has endured unsuccessful attempts to avoid the drop into the Conference while on loan at Boston last term - Wrexham's last day win at The Racecourse relegated the Pilgrims in a winner-takes-all clash - and with Rushden and Diamonds in 2006.

And although embroiled in another relegation dogfight with Wrexham, the 29-year-old striker believes he has a better chance of escaping the danger zone with the Reds - who are four points away from safety but have games in hand.

"Those two clubs did not have the same kind of set-up as Wrexham," said Broughton today. "Boston were nowhere near the kind of club Wrexham are, there was a different feel to it; and Rushden were not a big club like Wrexham.

"Both did not have the resources or the fans, and in a way you can understand those clubs falling out of the league.

"It is slightly easier here. No disrespect to Boston and Rushden but there is a better standard of player at Wrexham due to the finances available.

"One thing they had at the other two was a battling spirit, just like we have.

"Not many clubs have put a run of two defeats in 11 games together like we have, but we have to keep it going.

"I am determined to succeed this time. I am really focussed on helping Wrexham pull away and am focussed on my job."

Broughton has learned from his previous relegation battles and the much travelled striker stressed the importance of individuals concentrating on their own roles.

"If there was one thing it has taught me is you can't worry about relegation or think about the league table," said Broughton.

"I tried to take too much on my shoulders at one time. It should be up to each individual to focus on their own job.

"Monday to Friday you prepare and focus on your own job, and then go out and do it on the Saturday."

Broughton is expected to lead the front line in Wrexham's two matches during the Easter period - at Brentford on Saturday and against Dagenham and Redbridge at The Racecourse 48 hours later - but his month-long loan deal from Milton Keynes Dons expires on Tuesday.

If Broughton is allowed to extend his stay as hoped, the frontman would miss the Dons' Johnstone's Paints Trophy final against Grimsby Town at Wembley next month.

Broughton actually scored the winning penalty that secured Paul Ince's side a place in the final during his brief return to the Dons, but he said his priority is helping Wrexham in their Easter double header.

"I'm just going to leave it until after Monday's game. We have got a few days then to sort it," said Broughton.

"I have been training down there for a few days and all the lads are looking forward to Wembley. Everyone's buzzing and can't wait.

"But that is the last thing on my mind.

"It is a big weekend for Wrexham and we've got two massive games. All my thoughts are on that.

"I have been at Wrexham seven or eight weeks now, and I feel more like a Wrexham player."

Broughton, an ever-present since arriving at The Racecourse two months ago, scored his first goal for the Reds in Saturday's 2-1 win against Bury.

And a change in system was the key according to Broughton, who added: "It has taken me longer than it normally takes me to score. But chances had been few and far between when we played with one up front.

"There were more scoring opportunities on Saturday when we played with two in attack, and more crosses came in with two wingers.

"Scoring is not a problem, it has never phased me, and I am sure more chances will come my way. We are playing a more attack minded system and I have got goals in me."

PREMIER CONSIDER RADICAL SHAKE-UP
Paul Abbandonato - Western Mail

WELSH PREMIER chiefs are discussing a radical shake-up of their oft-criticised league which would see it reduced to just 10 teams.

The Western Mail understands the controversial move was discussed at a Welsh Premier board meeting yesterday and will be debated fully by the 18 club chairmen next month.

The proposal, which is understood to have come from within the league itself, will be seen as a counter to the FAW idea of bringing second-string sides from Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham into the competition to qualify them for Europe that way.

The FAW plan is contained in a strategic report for the future and will be discussed by their own management board at a meeting next week.

Clubs within the Welsh Premier are against the idea of reserve teams from the "big three" joining them and have devised their own revolutionary proposal for change as an alternative.

Under the new plan, the league would be reduced to just 10 clubs, with a second division of 10 lesser sides.

The proposal is modelled on the Scottish Premier League where teams play each other four times a season.

There would be end-of-season play-offs between the sides finishing at the bottom of the Welsh top flight and those at the top of the second division to determine who goes up and down.

Strict new Uefa criteria involving quality of stadia, office administration and youth academies would be required for teams eligible for the top division.

There is a general acceptance within the league at last, it appears, for the need for change to improve public interest in their competition.

Former league chairman Alun Evans believes that can happen with the introduction of sides from Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham.

But Welsh Premier secretary John Deakin reckons that is unlikely to happen.

He did confirm, though, "A paper has been put together suggesting the possibility of two leagues of 10 teams and is being discussed by our board of directors.

"It is designed to ensure quality, rather than quantity, and the initial feedback we have had from clubs is a positive one.

"Yes, teams would have to play each other four times a year, but the Scottish League is not a bad one to model ourselves upon.

"We need to look at the success across the water in Ireland, where they have streamlined their league to great effect by reducing the number of sides."

As regards Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham, Deakin said, "That idea has still not been officially put to us. It may be in the future and, if so, we will look at it.

"As I have said many times before, I would like to see a way whereby those three can qualify for Europe via the Welsh Cup.

"Getting sides from Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham into the league was one particular individual's idea of upping the profile of the league, and there is no doubt we do need to enhance that profile.

"However, there are other ways this can also be done, so various avenues are being explored.

"We are looking to change because, although we have made significant progress, things have plateaued out.

"Now something really needs to be done to improve the league.

The issue of Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham not being able to qualify for Europe has raised its head again, as a result of Dave Jones' Bluebirds reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.

Uefa president Michel Platini says he will put pressure on the English FA to nominate Cardiff for Europe, in the event of them lifting the cup for the first time since 1927.

The FA are loathe to nominate a Welsh club, but say they are reviewing their policy.