HUMPHREY KER says it’s inevitable players who have been part of the success story will move on this summer as Wrexham continue to evolve and prepare for life at a higher level.
The Reds are celebrating after clinching a top-three finish in League Two, securing back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club’s history.
Having previously won the National League title in 2022-23 following a record-breaking campaign, Wrexham handled the step-up and eventually took runners-up spot following a strong run-in but it promises to be a bigger leap when Phil Parkinson’s outfit return to the third tier where they last played in 2004-05 under Denis Smith.
As well as new signings it seems outings are likely when the retained list is announced, with Parkinson saying he wants to sort out the future of out of contract players “as soon as we can”
A number of players will become free agents this summer including goalkeepers Mark Howard and Rob Lainton, defenders Callum McFadzean, Ben Tozer, Aaron Hayden and Jordan Tunnicliffe, utility man James McClean, captain and midfielder Luke Young – the longest serving player in the squad – and striker Steven Fletcher.
“There’s going to be a turnover of players this summer as there’s a number of players out of contract,” said executive director Ker.
“Some players who have been part of this journey will be moving on.
“But the ones whose contracts are up have been pragmatic and realise that in football, things change and you don’t stay at a club forever. That’s life in football.”
Ker hit backs at claims that Parkinson, who has favoured a 5-3-2 system during his near three-year tenure as manager at The Racecourse, has no Plan B or doesn’t change tactics when Wrexham need a spark in matches.
With expectations even higher since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney became co-owners in February 2021, Ker feels Parkinson deserves credit for delivering the goods and clinch successive promotions when the whole world was watching.
“No League Two club has had more eyeballs on them as Wrexham have,” added Ker.
“And our fans and fans from other clubs had huge expectations of what we’d achieve this season.
“Everyone has an opinion saying ‘I’d do it like this, I’d do it like that.’
“That’s because of FIFA, Football Manager and social media where everyone thinks they are the manager.
“I read comments on chats about Phil Parkinson having no Plan B but he does.
“The formation changes in differing scenarios and I don’t understand the stick Phil gets in some quarters especially after he’s led us to back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club’s history.”
