Show Posts
25201
Football / Dennis Lawrence: The UK's newest resident.
« on: March 17, 2005, 06:40:02 AM »
Dennis Lawrence: The UK's newest resident.
Wrexham Daily Post[/size]
Dennis Lawrence last night vowed to give his all to Wrexham's League One survival push after being granted permanent UK residency.
The 30-year-old Trinidad international's change in status was confirmed by the Home Office yesterday, meaning he no longer needs a work permit to play in British football.
And Lawrence, who was signed from Trinidadian club Defence Force in 2001, told fans to brace themselves for a nerve-jangling end to the season as the Dragons chase League One safety and glory in two cup competitions.
"It's a great achievement to get my UK residency," said the 6ft 7in centre-back.
"I completed four years working in the country on March 5 and applied for residency straight away.
"It's a relief to have it all done and dusted. It means I can concentrate on playing now, so it's a massive weight off my shoulders.
"All the worrying is behind me. "I'm settled at Wrexham. I've bought a house in the area and my family have also got residency, so we're all delighted."
Dragons boss Denis Smith added: "It's good news for Dennis personally, and good for the club too. He's settled here as a player and he's also settled into the local community.
"He's earned the right to be a UK resident and I'm delighted for him."
Lawrence admits the pressure of knowing he needed to play regularly for his country in order to secure a work permit often played on his mind.
And he is relieved it's a problem he no longer needs to be concerned about.
"I wouldn't say I was always worried about it, but it was something I thought about a lot," he said.
"Now I've got residency, I'm in the driving seat. I can be fully focused on Wrexham now.
"I'm under contract at Wrexham for another two years and I'm delighted with that.
"I'm looking forward to concentrating on keeping us up. There is a lot of work ahead."
Although the Dragons are in the thick of a relegation dogfight and facing an uncertain future off the field, Lawrence is trying to remain upbeat as the club heads into the final few weeks of the season.
And the giant centre-back believes it would be a magnificent achievement if Wrexham could secure League One survival and go on to win the LDV Vans Trophy and FAW Premier Cup.
Wrexham face Bangor in the Premier Cup semi-finals next month, but it's the Millennium Stadium appearance against Southend on April 10 that's really got the fans' pulses racing..
Lawrence said: "We have the chance to turn what might have been a disastrous season into a massive triumph. When you look at the 10 points we had deducted and all the players we've had injured, it would be a great triumph if we could stay up and win the LDV Trophy and Premier Cup too.
"But the guys here are so professional and they aren't getting carried away.
"We can't think of Cardiff just yet, because the next game is Swindon in the league and that is all we should think about. When Cardiff comes round, we'll think about it then."
Lawrence becomes the third Wrexham player to be granted UK residency this season, following in the footsteps of international team-mates Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam.
The Dragons yesterday confirmed their home clash with Brentford - originally scheduled for March 25 but postponed due to international call-ups - will be played on Tuesday, April 19.
Hector Sam called up for World Cup game
Posted by: Arrow.[/size]
Denis Smith today revealed he will be calling off Wrexham’s League One double-header over Easter -but that decision leaves skipper Darren Ferguson playing an anxious waiting game.
The Reds’ boss has been left with no choice but to postpone matches at home to Brentford (March 25) and at Port Vale (March 29) because four of his players have received international call-ups. Football League rules state that games can be called off if a club has three or more players called-up.
Hector Sam was the latest Reds’ player to be named in a squad just last night. Sam joins Carlos Edwards in the Trinidad and Tobago squad for World Cup qualifying matches against Guatemala and Costa Rica. And Mark Jones and Craig Morgan were yesterday selected for Wales under 21s’ double header against Austria.
But the double cancellation of Wrexham’s league matches leaves Ferguson facing a nervous wait.
The postponements means there are just two league games before Wrexham’s dream LDV Vans Trophy final against Southend United at The Millennium Stadium on April 10 - and Ferguson is banned for both.
Ferguson sits out Saturday’s League One trip to Swindon Town because he picked up his tenth booking of the season in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Oldham Athletic.
The other match the influential midfielder will miss is the home game against Bournemouth on April 2.
Smith said today: “I had a phone call last night to say Hector is being called up, and that just caps it off. You take the four players out of the squad and what with injuries, there is just no way we can play.
“It was always going to be difficult anyway but I was hoping to have played the games. I had probably made my mind up yesterday with three call-ups to call it off, then Hector makes it four. I thought, that’s it.
“I have tried things. We looked at bringing the game against Brentford forward to the Tuesday, and asking Wales if the under 21s could join up later, but Brentford have got a game that day. I have gone through everything.
“That means it is going to be a long time until Darren Ferguson next plays. He won’t play until the LDV Vans Trophy final - if selected - and that’s not an ideal situation.
“I just hope he is allowed to play in reserve matches.”
Smith now has to fit the two postponed matches, as well as the match at Barnsley which was due to be played on the day before the final, and the FAW Premier Cup semi-final against Bangor City, into a hectic shedule.
“That’s four matches to re-arrange and after the Easter break we have five midweeks before the end of the season,” said Smith.
“From April 4 until the last game on May 7 we will have to play ten games. That’s a silly schedule and not what I wanted.
“These international call-ups are killing us and other clubs in our league don’t have this problem.”
Another Trinidadian, centre-back Dennis Lawrence, missed training yesterday with a foot injury.
Smith already has six first team players on the sidelines with injuries - Chris Armstrong, Brian Carey, Danny Williams, Jim Whitley, Dean Bennett and Alex Smith - and Ferguson serving a suspension.
Wrexham reserves travel to Rochdale tomorrow but fit members of the first team squad will not be risked.
Smith said: “We’ll have to find a team for the reserves but Andy Dibble needs games and will probably play.”
PS: This could mean they not expecting Glen to be ready in time....
Wrexham Daily Post[/size]
Dennis Lawrence last night vowed to give his all to Wrexham's League One survival push after being granted permanent UK residency.
The 30-year-old Trinidad international's change in status was confirmed by the Home Office yesterday, meaning he no longer needs a work permit to play in British football.
And Lawrence, who was signed from Trinidadian club Defence Force in 2001, told fans to brace themselves for a nerve-jangling end to the season as the Dragons chase League One safety and glory in two cup competitions.
"It's a great achievement to get my UK residency," said the 6ft 7in centre-back.
"I completed four years working in the country on March 5 and applied for residency straight away.
"It's a relief to have it all done and dusted. It means I can concentrate on playing now, so it's a massive weight off my shoulders.
"All the worrying is behind me. "I'm settled at Wrexham. I've bought a house in the area and my family have also got residency, so we're all delighted."
Dragons boss Denis Smith added: "It's good news for Dennis personally, and good for the club too. He's settled here as a player and he's also settled into the local community.
"He's earned the right to be a UK resident and I'm delighted for him."
Lawrence admits the pressure of knowing he needed to play regularly for his country in order to secure a work permit often played on his mind.
And he is relieved it's a problem he no longer needs to be concerned about.
"I wouldn't say I was always worried about it, but it was something I thought about a lot," he said.
"Now I've got residency, I'm in the driving seat. I can be fully focused on Wrexham now.
"I'm under contract at Wrexham for another two years and I'm delighted with that.
"I'm looking forward to concentrating on keeping us up. There is a lot of work ahead."
Although the Dragons are in the thick of a relegation dogfight and facing an uncertain future off the field, Lawrence is trying to remain upbeat as the club heads into the final few weeks of the season.
And the giant centre-back believes it would be a magnificent achievement if Wrexham could secure League One survival and go on to win the LDV Vans Trophy and FAW Premier Cup.
Wrexham face Bangor in the Premier Cup semi-finals next month, but it's the Millennium Stadium appearance against Southend on April 10 that's really got the fans' pulses racing..
Lawrence said: "We have the chance to turn what might have been a disastrous season into a massive triumph. When you look at the 10 points we had deducted and all the players we've had injured, it would be a great triumph if we could stay up and win the LDV Trophy and Premier Cup too.
"But the guys here are so professional and they aren't getting carried away.
"We can't think of Cardiff just yet, because the next game is Swindon in the league and that is all we should think about. When Cardiff comes round, we'll think about it then."
Lawrence becomes the third Wrexham player to be granted UK residency this season, following in the footsteps of international team-mates Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam.
The Dragons yesterday confirmed their home clash with Brentford - originally scheduled for March 25 but postponed due to international call-ups - will be played on Tuesday, April 19.
Hector Sam called up for World Cup game
Posted by: Arrow.[/size]
Denis Smith today revealed he will be calling off Wrexham’s League One double-header over Easter -but that decision leaves skipper Darren Ferguson playing an anxious waiting game.
The Reds’ boss has been left with no choice but to postpone matches at home to Brentford (March 25) and at Port Vale (March 29) because four of his players have received international call-ups. Football League rules state that games can be called off if a club has three or more players called-up.
Hector Sam was the latest Reds’ player to be named in a squad just last night. Sam joins Carlos Edwards in the Trinidad and Tobago squad for World Cup qualifying matches against Guatemala and Costa Rica. And Mark Jones and Craig Morgan were yesterday selected for Wales under 21s’ double header against Austria.
But the double cancellation of Wrexham’s league matches leaves Ferguson facing a nervous wait.
The postponements means there are just two league games before Wrexham’s dream LDV Vans Trophy final against Southend United at The Millennium Stadium on April 10 - and Ferguson is banned for both.
Ferguson sits out Saturday’s League One trip to Swindon Town because he picked up his tenth booking of the season in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Oldham Athletic.
The other match the influential midfielder will miss is the home game against Bournemouth on April 2.
Smith said today: “I had a phone call last night to say Hector is being called up, and that just caps it off. You take the four players out of the squad and what with injuries, there is just no way we can play.
“It was always going to be difficult anyway but I was hoping to have played the games. I had probably made my mind up yesterday with three call-ups to call it off, then Hector makes it four. I thought, that’s it.
“I have tried things. We looked at bringing the game against Brentford forward to the Tuesday, and asking Wales if the under 21s could join up later, but Brentford have got a game that day. I have gone through everything.
“That means it is going to be a long time until Darren Ferguson next plays. He won’t play until the LDV Vans Trophy final - if selected - and that’s not an ideal situation.
“I just hope he is allowed to play in reserve matches.”
Smith now has to fit the two postponed matches, as well as the match at Barnsley which was due to be played on the day before the final, and the FAW Premier Cup semi-final against Bangor City, into a hectic shedule.
“That’s four matches to re-arrange and after the Easter break we have five midweeks before the end of the season,” said Smith.
“From April 4 until the last game on May 7 we will have to play ten games. That’s a silly schedule and not what I wanted.
“These international call-ups are killing us and other clubs in our league don’t have this problem.”
Another Trinidadian, centre-back Dennis Lawrence, missed training yesterday with a foot injury.
Smith already has six first team players on the sidelines with injuries - Chris Armstrong, Brian Carey, Danny Williams, Jim Whitley, Dean Bennett and Alex Smith - and Ferguson serving a suspension.
Wrexham reserves travel to Rochdale tomorrow but fit members of the first team squad will not be risked.
Smith said: “We’ll have to find a team for the reserves but Andy Dibble needs games and will probably play.”
PS: This could mean they not expecting Glen to be ready in time....
