Former Hartlepool United frontman signs for National League rivals on deal until end of season
Former Hartlepool United frontman Chris Wreh has signed for National League strugglers Maidenhead on a deal until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old signed for Pools in the summer of 2023 but left 12 months later after failing to score in 12 appearances.
Wreh, whose father won the Premier League and FA Cup with Arsenal, came through the ranks at Northampton and earned a move to Southend in 2022 following a prolific season with Banbury United, scoring 21 goals as the Puritans won promotion from the Southern Football League Premier Division.
Wreh scored four goals in 27 games during his first season at Roots Hall but left to join Pools after the Shrimpers fell on hard times financially.
His time in the North East was frustrating and he found himself behind both Mani Dieseruvwe and Josh Umerah in the pecking order, signing on loan for Tamworth in February 2024.
Wreh helped the Lambs win the National League North title and signed a permanent deal in Staffordshire in the summer, scoring against Pools in the FA Trophy back in December.
However, he declared himself unavailable for selection in January, suggesting Tamworth - with the exception of popular manager Andy Peaks - had failed to offer him appropriate support after he was the victim of racist abuse following their FA Cup third round clash with Tottenham.
Wreh signed on loan for National League North leaders Scunthorpe last month, failing to score in five appearances.
Having left Tamworth, he agreed a deal to join relegation-threatened Maidenhead until the end of the season. Wreh made his debut as the Magpies, who are third from bottom in the National League and two points adrift of safety, came from behind to draw with promotion-chasing Rochdale at the weekend. He links up with Pools defender Manny Onariase, who is on loan at York Road, as well as former midfielder Brendan Kiernan, who signed for the Berkshire side earlier this month and scored his first goal for the club on Saturday.
Speaking after Saturday's game, Maidenhead assistant manager Ryan Peters was full of praise for both Kiernan and Wreh.
"They both did well," he told Maidenhead's official club website.
"Brendan's been with us a little bit longer than Chris has. I thought he took his opportunity really well, it was a really good first game back.
"Chris is going to need some time to adjust, the first time we've seen him is today. He's going to need a few training sessions before he can get to grips with what we need. They will both be useful additions for us."