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FORMER Scottish international Steve Nicol knows just what it needs to be a force at the sharp end of the Football League.
He won the top flight title four times with Liverpool, in addition to the European Cup back in 1984.
Now a pundit, Nicol thinks Wrexham should take a “sensible” approach as they prepare for their first season in the second tier in over four decades.
Nicol told ESPN TV: “The model so far has been about going into the next level and getting players in that are the better players for that level.
“This one’s a different ball game. This is a huge leap to go to the first division and think that you’re going to go then into the Premier League.
“Personally, I hope that they’re sensible and don’t overdo it, and overspend.
“I think they should think about ‘how do we stay here?’.
“’How do we consolidate in this league?’ and then maybe start building towards trying to get in the Premier League.
“I think it’s a fairy story already, but they don’t want to turn it into a nightmare and overdo it. You’ve got to be sensible.”
Since producing a record-breaking campaign to claim the National League title two years ago, the Reds have taken the EFL by storm.
Phil Parkinson’s side finished as runners-up to champions Stockport County in League Two 12 months ago, while they have secured promotion with champions Birmingham City from League One this time around.
Nicol added: “Here’s the thing, below the Championship you can get through it all by playing good football.
“When you get in the Championship, you need more than that.
“You need strength and you need the right characters, and all the horrible side of the game, you need to have that in the Championship and then, to get out of it, you need even more.
“So, be smart. Don’t go spending silly amounts of money on Premier League rejects, who might not have the right character and attitude, and can consolidate.
“That would be my Uncle Steven’s sensible talk for the day!”
Wrexham AFC
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