14 July 2023 , 16:42
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Ex-Premier League stalwart boss Neil Warnock has issued effusive praise of one departing Huddersfield Town star ahead of his move to Wrexham.
The veteran head coach signed on for a further year with the Terriers after masterminding a dramatic great escape to retain the club's Championship status last term. The Yorkshire outfit was some seven points adrift of safety in March but the 74-year-old's arrival seemed to galvanise group as they avoided the drop by finishing in 18th place.
The former Sheffield United manager will be tasked with keeping the three-time English champions in the second tier next season but will be without centre-back Will Boyle after he dropped two divisions to move to North Wales. Ambitious owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are no strangers to pulling of a coup in the transfer market and the signing of the 29-year-old represents another stellar move.
Despite the Red Dragons having been away from the EFL for over a decade and a half, big name players have been charmed by the project led by the Hollywood actors and the former Cheltenham Town defender will bring crucial experience to the squad. Joining Ben Foster and Paul Mullin at the Racecourse Ground, he has a healthy 147 appearances to his name in League Two.
He arrives at the historic club with the backing of Warnock, who waxed lyrical about the defender's application and attitude during their brief time together at the John Smith's Stadium. He also was eager to put on record his understanding of Boyle's desire for more first team minutes next season.
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The iconic coach told Huddersfield's club website: “Will is a fantastic boy and an Academy graduate, and has been fantastic around the building since my return to the Club. Wanting to increase his playing time, Boyley has a fantastic opportunity with Wrexham and I wish him all the best with his new side.”
The EFL mainstay defender is McElhenney and Reynolds' first addition of the summer, with the head coach Phil Parkinson now likely to put the star through his paces ahead of the club's upcoming US tour. With fixtures to come against Chelsea, Manchester United, LA Galaxy II and Phildelphia Union II stateside, the summer will see the Welsh club embark on a landmark whistle-stop journey around the US.
Neil Warnock has enjoyed a successful career in management (Getty Images)Speaking to Wrexham's club media, Boyle spoke of his delight at the deal having been struck, saying: "I’m delighted the deal’s over the line, and looking forward to getting started. It’s a good time to join – I can’t say anything that people don’t already know about what’s happening at this Football Club.
"But it’s also a perfect time for me to join, I feel, and a perfect opportunity for me. It’s exciting to be a part of. As soon as I knew there would be an opportunity to join, it excited me. It’s a club that is only going in one direction."
With Parkinson's team stateside before the start of next season, the manager will be resolute in his desire to ensure that the players remain focused on the task of being fit and ready to play MK Dons in their season opener on August 5. A first League two outing in 15 years, the clash will then be followed by an EFL Cup trip to Wigan Athletic.