Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney has revealed what the players have told him privately about their chances of challenging for promotion in League One.
Wrexham celebrated a club record second consecutive promotion in style by partying in Las Vegas. The Reds gift-wrapped their return to League One with matches to spare and are currently planning for their biggest challenge yet.
Whilst Wrexham had the biggest budget in League Two, prompting jealousy from rival supporters, the gap has closed significantly in League Two.
Phil Parkinson’s men will come up against battle-tested third-tier sides Barnsley, Peterborough United and Bolton Wanderers while Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City – two sides relegated from the Championship – will be expected to challenge for promotion.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds know this step up requires a significant improvement in personnel, adding quality League One players to the ranks.
There haven’t been many concrete links to players as of yet, but that hasn’t shirked their confidence of winning an unprecedented third promotion in a row.
Rob McElhenney shares what the Wrexham players told him in private
Hollywood owners Reynolds and McElhenney have already claimed they’ll throw the kitchen sink at reaching the Championship.
McElhenney, though, does accept that competing in the third tier will be their toughest challenge yet given the number of sides around them fighting for the same ambition.
Wrexham’s mentality over the last few years has been invincible and their ability to handle pressured situations carried them over the line in the National League and League Two.
A similar relentless attitude will be required in League One, with McElhenney claiming that the Wrexham players believe they have a real shot of challenging at the top once more.
Speaking to the Wales channel S4C, the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star said: “Well, I mean, not that it wasn’t real before, but now it gets really real.
“League One is a very competitive division. There are so many great clubs that have come down from the Championship into League One and it’s going to be a lot tougher than it was past year.
“But I was just with Phil and then just with the boys in Vegas, and they seem to think we have a shot at being there are at the top again.”
Wrexham prepare for a busy transfer window
Whilst other clubs were sorting their retained lists, Wrexham announced they’d be releasing nine players from their contracts, including Luke Young and Ben Tozer.
Although it was difficult to get rid of great servants to the club, it was a necessary process with the Reds looking to be as competitive as possible in League One.
Parkinson now has an abundance of space in his Wrexham squad to sign recruits but has urged supporters to be patient.
The 56-year-old will be scouring the market meticulously for players who are proven at this level. It’s a strategy that has worked previously, and it should see the Reds bring in at least six players to challenge for a starting spot.
Wrexham have a strong core of talented individuals to build around; it’s just about adding depth to their ranks ahead of a busy campaign.
