PHIL PARKINSON is already planning for life at a higher level but he stressed the importance of savouring Wrexham's amazing achievement.

The Reds secured a top-three finish in League Two to make it back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club's history.

Wrexham stepped up a gear in the run-in and Saturday's 2-1 win against Stockport County at The Racecourse was the fifth victory in a row, with Parkinson's men finishing runners-up after Mansfield were held to a 1-1 draw at Barrow.

The last two wins came after Wrexham booked their place in the third tier and Parkinson was delighted to finish on a high note as the Reds came from behind to beat the champions courtesy of goals from Ollie Palmer and Andy Cannon.

"The job was done of promotion. Credit to Stockport for being champions, we have got the back-to-back promotions which I feel is great for everybody connected with the club," said Parkinson.

"We will look forward to meeting them again in League One next year.

"At the end of the season, everybody is ready for a break and we will take that.

"It's going to be a busy summer but there's nothing better going into the summer with all the hard work being rewarded with a promotion.

"We will reflect on that and enjoy that feeling because it's really important.

"There's only so many teams every season that end up with success. We are one of them and we are going to enjoy that feeling but equally, there's a lot of hard work to be done."

Wrexham, with co-chairman Rob McElhenney in attendance, gave Stockport a guard of honour before kick-off and Parkinson said it was important to respect the champions.

"In tradition of football, the team which has won the title gets a guard of honour and we felt that it was the right thing to do," he added.

"We spoke to the lads about it and all the staff agreed that it was the right thing to do, and we did it.

"But the most important thing was the 90 minutes and being focussed on what we had to do."

Promotion was all that matters to Parkinson but he was pleased to finish runners-up.

"Now that we have got second place, obviously we would rather be second than third," he added.

"In years to come when we look at the table, we are pleased we are second.

"We would love to have been top but the promotion is the key."