It gives me a lot of pleasure to be able to welcome the players, fans, staff and directors of Wrexham to Edgeley Park this afternoon. It is good to see that they have come through the problems of the last two years, including administration and having to go to the High Court to defend their right to play at the Racecourse Ground. I am sure that they are rapidly putting all that behind them and are looking to move the club forward.

Moving the club forward is something that the County directors are always looking to do. There are plans in the pipeline and we often find it frustrating that we can’t tell you, the fans, more about them. Sometimes we are restricted by business confidentiality and sometimes the plans don’t work out and it would not have been sensible to tell you about something that, in the end, didn’t happen. When they do work out we are happy to tell you about them. Whatever plans we are working on and actions that we take are all designed to be for the benefit of County.

It is 50 years this year since my dad brought me to my first County game. We played Accrington Stanley and we stood at the front of the old Cheadle End. Over the next 49 years I was just a fan, like most of the rest of you. I shared in the highs and the lows. One feeling that has never been far away is a feeling of frustration. Sitting or standing there and thinking 'I could play better than that' even though I couldn’t have done, or 'Why are we using those tactics?' or 'Why hasn’t the manager not picked so and so'. I know that most fans suffer that same feeling of frustration, especially when things are not going well on the pitch.

That feeling of frustration does not go away once you become a director. In fact it can become more acute because you are more aware of all the hard work that is being done behind the scenes. I know that the people in the club most frustrated with recent results are Jim and Peter. I also know that they are the people working hardest to get things on the right track and then keep them there. The directors are supporting them in whatever ways we can.

The club has come a long way since the Trust takeover. Unfortunately the only place where that is not yet showing is on the pitch. I am certain that it will and in good time to avoid having another 'Carlisle' game at the end of this season. The directors, staff and players are all agreed and working to prevent that.

We cannot say thank you enough times to you, the fans, for your continued loyal and noisy support. Keep supporting but also keep asking the questions. We might not be able to give you an answer straight away but there will be a very good reason if we can’t. Remember that we are fans first and directors second.

I talked about the highs and lows of supporting County. I was at Wrexham’s Racecourse ground nearly 40 years ago when we drew 2 - 2. That point gave us the 4th Division championship. We will be there again.