PHIL PARKINSON believes Wrexham's rivalry with Stockport County will continue over the summer as well as on the pitch next season.

Dave Challinor's men pipped Wrexham to the National League title two years ago but the Reds achieved the same feat following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign when the Hatters were beaten in the League Two play-off final.

Stockport put that disappointment behind them this season by finishing as champions and they have been joined in League One by Parkinson's side who secured a second promotion in a row for the first time in the club's history.

Wrexham avenged the 5-0 defeat at Stockport in September by winning 2-1 at The Racecourse on the final day to seal runners-up spot, and Parkinson is looking forward to continuing the rivalry in the third tier.

"I think there is an edge between us and Stockport after the year in the National League, and obviously them beating us 5-0 at their place," he said.

"You can't hide away from that fact and geographically, it is a derby.

"We have been progressing together, I think everybody said it that they are ahead of us in terms of progression.

"They had two years in this division, they have had longer with their new owners to build an infrastructure but we are catching them quickly and we showed it on Saturday.

"We are looking forward to meeting them again in League One."

Parkinson expects Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, to be battling it out with Stockport for transfer targets over the summer.

"Credit to Stockport for what they have achieved," said the Reds' boss. "They are as equally as ambitious as we are.

"We probably get a bit more publicity because of the documentary but we will be competing with them in the summer for players.

"It is not just on the pitch, it is during the summer when we identify the players we want.

"It has happened before and we have got to make sure we get our number one targets in positions, but they will be fighting hard to get those players as well."

Stockport led at the break but Ollie Palmer equalised two minutes into the second half and Andy Cannon's late thunderbolt secured victory.

Wrexham boast the best home record in the division and Parkinson stressed the importance of keeping it that way.

"We spoke to the lads before the game and at half-time that we have got a very proud record here and it was important that we finished off well." he added.

"We didn't want the season to peter out to nothing and the lads were great in the second period.

"I was pleased for Ollie, it was a good finish. He got a goal at Crewe last week and he backed it up.

"At 1-1, it only looked like one team was going to win the game and it took a moment of pure class to seal it for us.

"The supporters were brilliant, they were tremendous.

"They were in celebratory mood but they were right behind the team as always and it made it a cracking finale."