CRAIG HARRISON is delighted that Wrexham have taken a chance on Sam Finley.

Like many currently working in the Welsh Premier League, The New Saints boss Harrison feels that the competition is often ignored by its closest professional sides.

“For the last two or three years there has been a bit of a snobbery from Wrexham towards the Welsh Premier League,” said Harrison, pictured above with Finley. “There are plenty of players good enough to play in the Conference from the Welsh Premier and Sam will prove that.”

Harrison was an admirer of Finley while manager of Airbus and jumped at the chance to bring the then 19-year-old to Park Hall once he was appointed director of football at full-time TNS.

It is under Harrison’s watchful eye that Finley has flourished, winning the Welsh Premier League young player of the year award last season.

And Harrison knows Finley will make the most of his opportunity at The Racecourse.

“Sam has a bit of everything. He can score goals, he’s a fit lad, he’s aggressive, he’s quick, he has a low centre of gravity and although he’s not the tallest he has an appetite to win,” said Harrison. “There were two or three Football League clubs and Conference clubs after Sam.

“I am really pleased for him, I brought him to the club when I came, he was my first signing and I had to pick him up and drop him off when he was on trial.

“Since then he has worked hard and progressed really well.”

Asked whether the diminutive Finley could struggle in the physical surroundings of the Conference Premier, Harrison said: “For his size he is physical and sometimes you have to think outside the box like Luton and York.

- Cefn Druids and Gap Connah’s Quay have been awarded funding for 3G installations. Nomads will install a full size pitch at Connah’s Quay High School, while Druids are yet to decide whether to install their surface at The Rock or Ysgol Rhiwabon.