Wrexham AFC will already be making preparations for a return to League One after securing promotion with two games remaining in their Football League stint.
After defeating Forest Green Rovers six times to remarkably gain back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club’s history, the Red Dragons secured promotion back to the third tier in style, moving up to the league they were relegated from 19 years earlier. Even if the players are having a great time returning to Las Vegas, as they did after winning the National League in 2017, Phil Parkinson will be focused on strengthening his team in preparation for the upcoming season.
Parkinson took over Wrexham in the summer of 2021, and he brought in a number of important players who helped turn the team around. These players helped the team move up through two divisions, and on the last weekend of the season, the team defeated champion Stockport County 2-1 to secure a second-place League Two finish.
The Racecourse, where Wrexham sells out every week, has a very excellent record that has also served as the foundation for the club’s back-to-back promotions.
Wrexham has had tremendous progress off the field in terms of commerce after Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney announced their acquisition of the North Wales team in late 2020 for about £2 million. The following season, Wrexham won the National League and were promoted to League One.
They will aim to maintain their upward trajectory into the third division, where they will often play against numerous teams that were once in the Premier League. In the end, their aspirational owners envision them being there at some point.
Jermaine Pennant: Wrexham limit the Championship
Over 230 Premier League games were played by Jermaine Pennant, who also had stints with Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, and Arsenal, among other teams. Wrexham will play Wigan Athletic in League One next season.
Although he thinks they can move high up the English football ladder, the 41-year-old has long ago retired and rejected the thought of continuing the adventure at Wrexham. He anticipates that the second division will be their maximum level of play.
He said, via FastestPayoutOnlineCasino.com, to Football League World: “I just got back from Liverpool’s Asia trip. We played three games in 12 days, and after the third one, I was unable to move.
“Unless I truly condition my body, I don’t think you’ll see me playing in 46 games a season! I’ll just stick to my exhibition games, you know.
“Wrexham may not have much chance of making the Premier League, but consider Luton’s example—a non-league team—so it is conceivable.
“I think the chances are slim but never say never, I think the furthest they will get is the Championship.”
Wrexham’s next steps into League One
Everyone associated with Wrexham will be brimming with hope after the team swept through two levels in the last two seasons.
With several formidable teams in League One to contend with, both historically and in terms of finances and resources, Pennant is correct to set reasonable expectations going forward.
The task is much more difficult because the opposition in the third division is quite strong, including teams like Reading, Barnsley, Birmingham, Wigan, Huddersfield Town, and Charlton Athletic, to mention a few.
These are teams that have an extensive past in both the Premier League and the second division.
