A FORMER Wrexham favourite will be banging in the goals at Maes Tegid next season.

That's the hope of Bala Town boss Colin Caton after he secured the coup of the summer so far over the weekend.

Ex-Wrexham and Fleetwood attacker Andy Mangan will be leading the Lakesiders' attack during the forthcoming Welsh Premier League season.

"It crashed the website on Sunday!" said Caton on the announcement of the signing of Mangan.

"We knew it would be popular but I didn't think it would be as popular as it was.

"It's good we can attract a player like that at this stage of his career."

Mangan is Bala's fifth - and most high profile - signing of the summer transfer window.

The 31-year-old joins the club following his release from Tranmere Rovers last month and he is certainly a well-known name within the Football League.

Starting out at Blackpool aged 15, Mangan spent three years in the reserve and youth teams at Bloomfield Road, scoring 49 goals, prior to his professional debut in 2004 versus Chesterfield.

Following a brief loan move to Hyde United, he joined Accrington Stanley, where he scored 10 goals in 45 starts to help the club gain promotion back into the Football League.

Next was a stint at Bury and in 2008, he signed for Forest Green Rovers, where his goalscoring reputation began.

Mangan netted 26 goals in 41 games during his two-year spell.

Wrexham was his next port of call in 2010, with 22 goals in 65 appearances, but when the Reds failed to gain promotion, he was picked up by Fleetwood Town.

Again, Mangan made headlines here, scoring 24 goals in 53 games.

After a couple of loan spells back at Forest Green and Luton Town, he signed for Shrewsbury Town in 2014 and after a year at the New Meadow, he joined Tranmere Rovers.

Mangan is looking to get in to the coaching side of the game and is currently on the UEFA A Licence at the Welsh Football Trust with Bala Town assistant manager Steve Fisher.

"Steve Fisher's done well with recruiting and he has recruited well this year to be fair," added Caton.

"We lacked firepower last year, but we should be a lot better this time around."

Mangan will be studying and coaching in the day time, which will enable him to play part time.

Caton added: "Mangan will bring so much to the team and the dressing room, which is so important to us at Bala with the right blend of person we look for.

"Andy will fit in well with the group like the other new signings of Steven Tames, Sean Smith, Anthony Miley and Andrew Burns."

He will wear the number 14 shirt for the Lakesiders.