DEAN KEATES has been backed to become Wrexham's new permanent manager by club legend Mickey Thomas.
The 38-year-old made over 150 appearances for the Dragons as a player and is now in caretaker charge alongside Joey Jones and Andy Davies following Gary Mills' departure last week.
The trio haven't had the best of starts, losing to Step 4 side Stamford at home on Tuesday night in their FA Cup replay but Thomas reckons Keates could be the right man going forward.
“Dean Keates at this moment in time is in charge and I think maybe that might be a long term thing,” Thomas told BBC Radio Wales.
“With Gary Mills going maybe they haven't got the financial clout to get someone in.
“He knows the club inside out and I think he has all the ingredients to be a good manager. If he does well, Dean Keates, he could keep the job.”
Macclesfield boss John Askey has been installed as the bookies' favourite to replace Mills but it's unclear whether the north Wales outfit would be able afford to bring him in from their league rivals.
Thomas added: “I think he wants it by all accounts. But I think that would be very expensive to bring him on board. But he has got good pedigree.
“There have been many applicants for this job, it's a high profile job for sure. The players at this moment in time you'd have to say they're not good enough and there would have to be a change in personnel.”
