Wrexham will be back in League One next season and that means some tough decisions for Phil Parkinson and co as the transfer window looms.
Back-to-back promotions was a dream for Wrexham fans, but now it’s a reality.
For the first time in almost 20 years, Wrexham will return to League One, but not everyone can sustain this amazing trip.
Retained lists from every EFL team are disclosed at the end of the season, and Wrexham’s was made public on Friday.
As their contracts come to an end this summer, a number of well-known players are departing Wrexham, with Ben Tozer and Luke Young leading the way.
After providing the team with excellent service, the veteran pair will be going, and they will be joined by players like Aaron Hayden, Jordan Tunnicliffe, and Callum McFadzean.
Even if Wrexham’s next chapter of growth is upon us, Parkinson is eager to retain some of the players from the League Two triumph.
Mark Howard on Wrexham future
Mark Howard, the goalkeeper, is one such athlete.
Last season, Howard was Wrexham’s number two, supporting the impressive Arthur Okonkwo, an Arsenal loanee, at the STōK Cae Ras.
With Ben Foster’s retirement, the seasoned stopper would have expected to assume the role as starting goalkeeper for Wrexham.
Instead, Wrexham signed Okonkwo, and Howard played in just 10 games the previous campaign.
Howard’s contract is set to expire this summer, but Wrexham has extended an offer to stay, and he is eager to accept it.
In an interview with The Leader, Howard acknowledged his desire to stay on the Wrexham team.
Despite being 37 years old, Howard still thinks he has two or three years left in his career and has no immediate intentions to retire.
Despite having to go to non-league football, Howard has relished being a part of the Wrexham tale and believes his Wrexham journey is far from over.
“The club’s history is well-known, but if you ask any of the young guys who joined in the National League, none of us wanted to go down to that level,” Howard remarked. All of us had performed much better. However, we desired to accompany that voyage.
“To say we made history by helping the team win consecutive promotions is an understatement. We cannot be deprived of that. It’s exceeded my highest hopes to become a progressive club, which was my original goal. I feel like I have two or three more years left in me at 37, and I just want to keep going at Wrexham,” he continued.
Phil Parkinson clearly a fan of Howard
At Wrexham, Howard will very likely have Phil Parkinson as one of his supporters no matter what.
Howard was trained by Parkinson at Bolton Wanderers and then rejoined at Wrexham, demonstrating genuine faith in the seasoned goalie.
According to his remarks, Howard is willing to remain in Wrexham, even if it means returning to the position of backup goalkeeper.
Howard’s expertise and experience will be invaluable in serving as a sounding board for Luke McNicholas, the stopper for Wrexham.
Additionally, there’s a chance that Okonkwo returns permanently, with Wrexham “desperate” to sign the talented out-of-contract Arsenal player.
If Okonkwo declines to sign, Wrexham would undoubtedly acquire another goalie, and a similar-profile goalie would undoubtedly pick up a lot of knowledge from Howard.
Given that Howard is unwilling to leave and that both Parkinson and Wrexham plainly want him to stay, we would anticipate that a new contract will be signed very shortly.
