TOM O'CONNOR described back-to-back promotions as a "great achievement" and the midfielder is looking forward to being back in League One where he first made his mark.

The 25-year-old joined Wrexham from Burton Albion for an undisclosed fee in January 2022 and although Phil Parkinson's men missed out on going up to League Two after losing in the play-off semi-final to Grimsby Town at the end of the season, success soon followed.

The Reds clinched the National League title following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign and followed it up by finishing runners-up to champions Stockport County in League Two this term, securing two promotions in a row for the first time in the club's history.

Both were special in their own right but O'Connor, who has also been used as a centre-back, says there was less pressure in the fourth tier with three automatic promotion spots up for grabs as opposed to only one team going straight up from non-league when Wrexham came out on top following a thrilling title race with Notts County.

"Promotion is the same but it was probably a bit different last year," said O'Connor, who made 34 league appearances in Wrexham's latest promotion-winning season.

"It was a bit more intense because there was only one promotion spot last year and Notts County took us to the very end.

"There has been a lot of teams up there this year fighting for the three spots but there probably hasn't been as much pressure on us as year because there are three spots.

"It is still a great achievement, especially coming up from the National League and then going straight up to League One."

O'Connor came through the Southampton academy before spending two seasons on loan at Gillingham.

A regular for the Gills in League One, O'Connor earned a move to Burton when his Southampton contract expired, and he scored five goals in his half-season with the Brewers in the third tier.

Wrexham are back at that level for the first time since 2005 and the Irishman admits it will be tougher making the step up once again.

But a number of players in The Racecourse ranks have experienced playing at a higher level and O'Connor is backing the Reds to adjust when the 2024-25 campaign kicks off in August.

"There is definitely a step-up," added O'Connor, who is under contract at Wrexham until June 2025.

"But the squad we have got here now, a lot of lads have already played in League One.

"A lot of us will be familiar with it and I think we will have enough quality to be able to deal with it.

"I am not sure what is going to happen over the summer but with the lads we've got in the squad, we wouldn't be fearful of going into the league.

"Obviously it is a step-up again so we will need to be ready for that but it is one that everybody wants to make."