Bellamy expects to aid Wrexham

Wales star Craig Bellamy has at least not lost his sense of humour after his disappointment at missing out on the Champions League final.

The Liverpool striker believes Wrexham, who have just survived a League Two relegation battle, must be waiting for another bout of controversy from the 27-year-old.

Bellamy has a soft spot for the north Wales side, asking for his fine for the infamous "golf club" incident at Liverpool’s Portuguese training camp in February to be donated to cash-strapped Wrexham’s cause.

The money was spent on signing three loan players, a major contribution to saving the club from the drop into the Conference.

After scoring both goals for Wales at Wrexham on Saturday in the 2-2 draw with New Zealand, Bellamy joked: “Maybe I will be able to help them again, there’s usually a club fine around the corner for me.

“I’m sure Wrexham will be waiting in anticipation, it probably won’t be too far away.”

Bellamy put his Athens misery behind him to get his mind clear for this weekend’s Euro 2008 qualifier with the Czech Republic in Cardiff.

However, on his first appearance at Wrexham since his generosity helped save them from the drop, Bellamy showed a more serious note and an understanding of life in the lower reaches.

He said: “I have a few mates who play at Wrexham so I was very worried for them at the end of the season when they were fighting to stay in the league.

“If they had gone down I don’t think they would have come back. I remember as a boy watching Newport County and seeing them go out of the league.

“They drifted out of the league and have never got back. In Wales we cannot afford to lose another side from the Football League.

“It is important for the fans in north Wales to have a team to support. It is important also in terms of producing young players, there has always been a good supply of youngsters coming through the youth ranks at the club.

“It was vital for us as Welsh players that Wrexham stayed in the league. I just hope that things improve and they won’t get as close again to being relegated.”

Bellamy has called for the Wales public to get behind the cause next weekend at the Millennium Stadium.

He added: “As far as Cardiff next weekend is concerned, we need the fans there.

“When you are playing in front of 12,000 in a stadium that holds 70,000 it is not easy to motivate yourself.

“We could do with a few more fans there, but we need to lift them and give them something to shout about.

“We need three points, that would help, and if we don’t get them it would virtually close the door to qualification.”