NEIL ASHTON doesn't envy Dean Keates as he tries to transform Wrexham into National League promotion challengers.

The Reds endured a miserable 2019/20 National League campaign, slumping to the foot of the division - their lowest every position - at one point, before Keates eventually guided them out of the relegation zone.

Reds' boss Keates only has six players - Shaun Pearson, Rob Lainton, Jay Harris, Dan Jarvis, Luke Young and Devonte Redmond - under contract for the new season as he looks to turn the club's fortunes around.

And with the coronavirus crisis creating an uncertain time for football, especially lower down the pyramid, Ashton feels for his former team-mate.

"He steadied the ship, which was great," said the former Wrexham full-back. "Staying in the league was the most important thing and Wrexham managed to do that.

"But it will tough for Dean to shift people out that he might not want, or get people in.

"I don't envy him in the current climate because no-one knows what football will look like when it returns, certainly at non-league level.

"I'm sure salaries will drop probably 20 per cent."