Wrexham boss on challenge of going up to Championship

Wrexham won 3-0 against Charlton Athletic at The Racecourse on Saturday and have finished runners-up in League One with one game to spare.

It was a day to remember for the Reds who made history by becoming the first team to secure three successive promotions in the top-five tiers. 

Although Wrexham have adjusted well to going up a division since clinching the National League title following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign, Parkinson knows it will be tough in the second tier when his side will come up against the likes of Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich who have been relegated from the Premier League.

But it's something the 57-year-old is relishing.

"Everybody knows that the Championship is an incredible jump," said Parkinson.

"We're going into one of the most competitive leagues in world football and one of the most supported leagues.

"It's going to be a huge challenge. I remember when we went up with Bolton, we were in a transfer embargo and we kept them up on the last day of the season.

"I still think that ranks right up there in my best ever achievements because the competitiveness was really tough, and the physicality and the power in the division, but I'm confident we'll be well prepared for that. 

"We're going to do what we've done this year. We're going to recruit the right players and try and get the squad as strong as we can, and enjoy the ride because I think that's really important.

"There's a lot of tough decisions to be made over the summer in terms of who we bring in and how we add to this fantastic group of lads we've got. 

"But let's see if we can build a squad which can compete at that level.

"We're going to go into the Championship and we're going to tackle it full-on, committed, and keep representing the club the way we've done over the last few years."

Wrexham are backed by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob MeElhenney, while the club posted a record turnover for the year ending June 30, 2024, but Parkinson will have to deal with players demanding higher wages in the Championship.

"The jump in salaries is just incredible, it's mind blowing," he added.

"Even coming up to this level, the jump to get players with Championship quality is expensive.

"That is a challenge but what we've always tried to do is make sure the culture in the club is right and I think that's key. 

"No superstars, no egos in the dressing room and we've got to try and get that balance right again where you always need extra quality when you go up a a level, but make sure that they are the right people coming into the building.

"We've done it this year, with Ollie Rathbone for instance. He typifies everything you want in a player, in terms of the buy into the culture and the work we expect from the players. 

"You want the quality, you want the special moments, but Ollie has typified the recruitment policy we've had and how he's fitted into the group."