THE pressure’s been ramped up on Wrexham to gain promotion after the bookies gave them staggering odds of 7/5 to win the National League title.

The Reds were one of the favourites for a return to the Football League last season but fell at the semi-final hurdle - the sixth time they have suffered play-off misery in their 15 years in the non-league doldrums.

All eyes will be on Phil Parkinson’s side this season but the Reds’ boss says he and players are ‘determined to put last season’s disappointment behind them’.

Wrexham, backed by the millionaire movie stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, finished runners-up to champions Stockport County last season.

The club spent heavily to bring in Paul Mullin, Aaron Hayden, Ben Tozer, James Jones, Ollie Palmer and Tom O’Connor and Parkinson says he already has targets in mind on who he wants to bolster his squad.

The players will return for pre-season training on July 4 - 48 hours before the fixtures are due out for the new season.

And all eyes will be on the opening game of the season, which will be on August 6.

Bookmakers William Hill have priced Chesterfield as Wrexham’s closest challengers for the title at 15/2 while Notts County and Solihull Moors, who also reached the play-offs last season, are 8/1 and 9/1 respectively.

Relegated Oldham Athletic, who have sunk from the Premier League to National League, are next on the list at 16/1 along with Southend United.

Dagenham and Redbridge, who thrashed Wrexham 3-0 on the last day of regular season at Victoria Road, are one of the four teams at 20/1 for the title.

The others are Boreham Wood, Halifax Town and Torquay United.

Scunthorpe United, who finished bottom of League Two last season and are managed by former Wrexham defender Keith Hill, come in at 25/1 along with Yeovil Town.

Other odds: 33/1 Bromley; 40/1 York City; 50/1 Barnet, Dorking Wanderers, Gateshead; 66/1 Woking; 80/1 Eastleigh; 100/1 Aldershot, Maidstone United; 125/1 Altrincham; 150/1 Maidenhead, Wealdstone.