It signalled the end of an era at Kidderminster Harriers when Dean Bennett put pen to paper for Wrexham last week. The 26-year-old was the last remaining link with Jan Molby's Conference winning side of 2000, but has finally decided to try his hand in the newly named League One with Wrexham. It is a step into the unknown for Bennett who has previously played all his soccer, apart from a single game for West Brom, in the basement division or non-league. The one-time Albion player, who was ironically once released by Dennis Smith, was Harriers record signing when they paid Bromsgrove £30,000 for his services back in 1999. More than 200 games and 30 goals later and Bennett is linking up with Smith and former team mate Danny Williams at The Racecourse Ground. Ian Clarkson caught up with Bennett just as pre-season training was getting underway to talk about his reasons behind the move and his ambitions for the campaign.
Q:IT WAS RUMOURED THAT YOU WERE GOING TO STAY AT AGGBOROUGH ON REDUCED TERMS - WHY THE CHANGE OF HEART?
A:It is a higher level of football and a step up in standard for me. I want my career to progress and at the age of 26 I felt like I needed a new challenge. It was pretty much a case of now or never really.
Q:JAN MOLBY HAS GONE ON RECORD AS SAYING HE WAS 'DISAPPOINTED' YOU LEFT AFTER ORIGINALLY SAYING YOU WOULD STAY HASN'T HE?
A:He wasn't too happy when I spoke to him, but I am sure he would go if he got the chance to manage a club at a higher level. I was expecting to go back to Kidderminster for pre-season but this opportunity was just too good to turn down. I want to thank Jan for giving me my chance back in the league and the fans have been great. But he's got to understand that I want to play at a higher level.
Q: HOW ARE YOU FINDING IT AT WREXHAM?
A:It will be a little bit strange to start with as I was at Kidderminster for five years previously. We eased our way back into pre-season training for the first day but then they introduced the bleep test! It looks like a great set-up with better players and I can't wait to get started.
Q:DIDN'T DENNIS SMITH RELEASE YOU AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AT WEST BROM?
A:He did, but he had a lot to worry about with the first team then and I probably wasn't that high on the list of his priorities in those days. When I spoke to him he said that he had originally come to watch Danny Williams play but I had caught his eye in a couple of games. And when Carlos Edwards got injured playing international football this summer they decided to make a move. I think he sees me playing at right wing-back this season.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE?
A:Firstly, I have got to find somewhere to live in Wrexham. But I also need to make an impression and we have got a good pre-season lined up. We are going over to the Isle of Man for a tournament and we also have a home friendly against Liverpool so there is plenty to look forward to.
