EOGHAN O'CONNELL described Phil Parkinson as an "incredible" manager to play for after guiding Wrexham to a second promotion in a row.

The Reds thrashed Forest Green Rovers 6-0 at home on Saturday and secured a top-three finish in League Two with two games to go.

Parkinson took over The Racecourse hot-seat in the summer of 2021 and led Wrexham to the National League title following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign before booking a place in League One.

O'Connell, brought in from Charlton Athletic in January 2023, has played his part in successive promotions under Parkinson and the centre-back says the Reds' manager is hugely influential figure.

"He has been incredible," said O'Connell. "If you ask anyone in the dressing room, they can't speak highly enough of him.

"He is someone you want to play for. You want to run through a brick wall for him every week and he just gets it right in terms of how he deals with everyone, how he deals with players and deals with stuff going on off the pitch.

"He is just a great man and a lot of it is down to him. 

"The way he carries himself and acts rubs off on us as players and makes you want to do more for him."

O'Connell, who previously clinched automatic promotion from League Two with Bury in 2018-19, is delighted to be part of something special at Wrexham.

"Winning promotion is tough and to do it two years in a row is an incredible achievement for the team and the club," said O'Connell.

"I was promoted once before in my career before I came here, to do it back-to-back is incredible.

"It is a really great feeling knowing we have been promoted to League One and the club is on a journey, the club wants to build. 

"It is important to enjoy these achievements the last couple of years.

"We have had two in a row but it's a long career and they don't really come around often."

Wrexham only lost three games on their way to clinching the National League title with a best ever 111 points haul.

The Reds have suffered 10 defeats this season but O'Connell says the players have responded well to set-backs.

"This year has been a bit different to last year," he said.

"We have a few days this year where we have had to pick ourselves up after defeats more than last season but we stuck to our task and got promoted which is what we set out to do.

"There was never a waiver in what we were doing and that makes it even more special. 

"We kept going and it has been a great season, I have really enjoyed it."

Wrexham adapted well to life at a higher level and O'Connell says the players will do the same in League One next term.

"I spent most of my career between League One and League Two. I played a lot of games in both," he added.

"It is a big leap but the National League to League Two is a jump.

"When it comes around we will be ready for it."