Wrexham were forced into releasing many of their experienced players this summer as they made the step up to League One.
Wrexham let go of nine players in total but the most notable were defensive titans Aaron Hayden, Jordan Tunnicliffe and Ben Tozer while captain Luke Young also departed.
It’s a quartet that amassed over 500 appearances between them and helped inspire the side to successive promotions.
Luckily, following their incredible service to Wrexham, they’ve all found new clubs with Luke Young and Aaron Hayden remaining at League Two outfits Cheltenham and Carlisle respectively while Tozer and Tunnicliffe dropped down to the National League with Forest Green and Solihull Moors.
Most supporters of the Welsh outfit will wish them well at their new clubs, although for Hayden, his first competitive appearance at Carlisle didn’t get off to the best start.
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How Aaron Hayden fared on Carlisle United debut vs Gillingham
Following three seasons and 94 appearances at Wrexham, Hayden returned to a club where he played 74 times in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 League Two campaigns.
The 27-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Cumbrian outfit and on Saturday, made his second debut for the club.
Unfortunately, it didn’t plan out as he would have envisaged, with the colossal defender on the receiving end of a 4-1 hammering away at Gillingham.
Normally, conceding four goals suggests the defence played badly but Hayden was given a 6/10 rating, as per the News & Star, while he was described as ‘secure as anyone in the backline’ and ‘tried to be proactive on the ball’.
Known for his incredible ability in the air during his time at Wrexham, Hayden won nine aerial duels in the match, made five clearances and placed four long balls accurately.
Hayden and his teammates hope to put that opening-day result behind them as they host Barrow next weekend.
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Aaron Hayden’s aims at Carlisle United
Last season, injury prevented Hayden from accumulating more than the 15 appearances he made in League Two but he still had a promotion medal to show for it.
Now at Carlisle, he’ll want to achieve a third successive promotion, an achievement very few players can say they’ve accomplished.
The Cumbrians were relegated last term, finishing rock bottom of League One, but with the help of Hayden, they will be eyeing up an instant return to the third tier.
Their quest, in that regard, got off to an awful start however, it will become more clear in the weeks and months whether Carlisle can be a serious challenger at the top in what promises to be a competitive League Two campaign.