PHIL PARKINSON praised his players for the way they dealt with high expectations and favourites tag placed on Wrexham going into this season which has culminated in a second promotion in a row.

After winning the National League title following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign, the Reds were tipped to continue climbing the divisions under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

It took time to adjust to life at a higher level but Wrexham emerged a challengers for a top-three finish and secured automatic automatic promotion from League Two with two games to go after thrashing Forest Green Rovers 6-0 at The Racecourse on Saturday.

Parkinson feels Wrexham dealt with the pressure during their first season back in the Football League following a 15-year absence.

"Everybody was speaking this year about expectations and gave us the favourite tag but we had a slow start for various reasons," said the Reds' boss.

"It took us a while to adapt to the division as well and everywhere we went away from home, it was a cup final and big, sell-out crowds, and teams were waiting for us after all the publicity we had last year; they had that extra edge to beat us.

"Taking all that into consideration, it is a fantastic achievement from everybody.

"To finish the job off in the style we've done this week with three wins is something I am immensely proud of."

Wrexham bounced back from a heart-breaking 5-4 play-off semi-final defeat to Grimsby Town in May 2022 by securing automatic promotion from non-league, coming out on top in a thrilling title race with Notts County when the Reds finished with a best-ever 111 points haul.

Parkinson feels there was less pressure on Wrexham this season after ending the Football League exile but says both players and staff remained hungry to continue the success story.

"The tension of last year made this year a little bit easier," he said,

"Losing in the play-offs and then going toe-to-toe with Notts County, to miss out again if we had would have been very difficult for the club going forward.

"Obviously we would have carried on but it was so important to get over the line.

"This year, the people kept saying to me about the pressure but I have enjoyed it, it has been great.

"The fantastic thing for me, Steve Parkin, Dave Jones and Aidan Davison is the lads care a lot and they train hard every day.

"They are really invested in the club and that makes it pleasurable to come in. Even when we have got beat, by Monday morning we are ready to come in to have a chat with the lads and see what they are thinking.

"We know they have been caring as much as we have and looking for solutions and I think that is what we have done well as staff and a group of players when we have had defeats.

"We have found the solutions very quickly and that is key in any promotion winning season."