BBC Sport - Football - Veteran Sinclair moves to Wrexham (original) (raw)

Frank Sinclair has made more than 500 Football League appearances

Wrexham have completed a transfer coup by signing veteran former Chelsea and Leicester City defender Frank Sinclair on a one-year deal.

Dragons boss Dean Saunders wants the 37-year-old former Jamaican international to help inspire Wrexham's push back into the Football League.

"I've joined as I believe this squad have the ability to win automatic promotion," Sinclair told BBC Sport.

Sinclair is set to make his Wrexham debut at Tamworth on Tuesday.

Sinclair, who has made more than 500 Football League appearances in his 19-year career, won the FA Cup and League Cup during his eight years at Chelsea.

The Lambeth-born player also won the League Cup during his six years at Leicester between 1998 and 2004, but has been without a club since being released by Lincoln City at the end of last season.

Sinclair, who spent time on loan at Wycombe Wanderers last term, has taken part in pre-season training with Bury and has also trained with Wrexham.

The experienced centre-back watched Wrexham's 2-1 defeat to Kettering on Saturday before discussing a potential move with boss Saunders.

"I've trained a few times with Wrexham and I have seen there is good quality and good competition in the squad," said Sinclair.

"I have no problem dropping down to non-league level. I have always being suited to playing at this level because I love heading it, defending and making tackles.

	Joey Jones has been a big inspiration in my career. When I was growing up I wanted to be just like Joey Jones when he was playing at Chelsea. Wrexham defender Frank Sinclair

"One of the main attributes of this league is battling your way out of it and putting your body on the line. I've done that all of my football career.

"I've slowly gone down the league levels as I get older, going down one division at a time.

"I helped Wycombe win promotion from League Two last season and now I want to play a major part in getting Wrexham back up."

Sinclair admits that one-time mentor Joey Jones, the former Wales international defender who is now a coach at Wrexham, was a big influence in Sinclair's move to North Wales.

Full-back Jones was a regular for Chelsea when a young Sinclair was coming through the Stamford Bridge youth ranks.

"I've known Joey Jones since I was 11 years of age," Sinclair revealed.

"He was in the first team when I was coming through the Chelsea ranks. I've always kept in touch with Joey and he has been a big influence in my move here.

"Joey Jones has been a big inspiration in my career. When I was growing up I wanted to be just like Joey Jones when he was playing at Chelsea.

"I'm looking forward to linking up with Joey again because he is a good football man.

"I have aspirations to go into coaching myself, maybe starting at non-league level. He'll hopefully be a big help to me getting my coaching badges and getting involved in coaching youngsters."

Sinclair's signing is the latest high-profile transfer swoop by Saunders following former Premier League star Matt Jansen's spell at the Racecourse last season.

Saunders also tried to sign ex-Manchester City striker Kiki Musampa and has now made Sinclair his fifth summer signing as Wrexham bid for Blue Square Premier promotion.

Sinclair joins former Manchester City youngsters Curtis Obeng and Adrian Cieslewicz and French midfielder Hedi Taboubi and defender Mansour Assoumani at the Racecourse.