Former Wrexham manager Bryan Hughes has now revealed he was responsible for giving one of their current stars a new contract at the club.
Wrexham are currently embroiled in an exciting battle to win promotion to League One.
Despite losing 1-0 to Doncaster Rovers in midweek, Phil Parkinson‘s men have fate in their hands with a two-point cushion on fourth-place MK Dons as well as a game in hand.
In years gone by, Wrexham will have positive and negative memories of promotion pushes.
A stunning title fight against Notts County last season saw the Reds scoop the title in record-breaking style while a year earlier, they lost out to Grimsby in the play-off semi-finals in a nerve-shredding 5-4 defeat.
Some supporters will also have a recollection of their 2018/19 season, which saw them change manager three times but still manage to secure a playoff spot.
Bryan Hughes was the man who eventually led them from February onwards as their campaign ended in a defeat to Eastleigh, with Hughes sacked from his post in September 2019.
Bryan Hughes shares key decision to give Wrexham ‘super talent’ new contract
Since departing Wales nearly five years ago, the former Hull City midfielder hasn’t taken on a managerial role, however, one of his parting comments to Spencer Harris, a former Wrexham board member, will live long in the memory.
In an interview with The Athletic, Hughes revealed he was responsible for giving Jake Bickerstaff and Max Cleworth long-term contracts.
While Bickerstaff is flourishing on loan at Accrington Stanley, Cleworth has become an integral figure in Parkinson’s backline, making 19 League Two appearances.
At the time of his comment, the duo were both aged 17 and plying their trade in the Wrexham youth team.
Now, they are both excellent players in the fourth tier, with Cleworth arguably destined to play at a much higher level.
“One of my parting comments to Spencer (Harris, former Wrexham board member) when I left after the defeat to Fylde was to secure Jake Bickerstaff and Max Cleworth on good contracts,” said Hughes.
“They were in the youth team at the time but I’d given them their debuts (against Ayr United in the Scottish Challenge Cup). Bickerstaff had a natural instinct and Max is a super player. They both needed a bit of work, but there was definitely something there.”
Bryan Hughes spotted Max Cleworth’s talent
Hughes’ eye for talent was demonstrated by him spotting Cleworth and telling the Wrexham board member to give him a new contract.
With the 21-year-old now a pivotal member of the first-team set-up, this has proven to be an inspired decision, and perhaps it wouldn’t have happened without the manager’s influence.
A former Premier League player with Hull City, Hughes has played with some of the very best in the English game, so he knows a great talent when he sees one.
Luckily, he saw the potential in Cleworth as the 2002-born defender looks destined to have a successful career in the game.