Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson is gearing up for a busy summer as the club celebrates their promotion from League Two to League One with a resounding 6-0 win over Forest Green Rovers. The Welsh club, known for their global fanbase thanks to the documentary ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, will now face the challenge of sorting out the future of their out-of-contract players.
“We’ve got a lot of players out of contract, so we need to sit down and resolve that,” Parkinson said. “Our first job is treating the out-of-contract players respectfully. Last year we didn’t have many out of contract, but this year is different. Those talks are important and it is important that we get them done sooner rather than later.”
With back-to-back promotions under their belt, Parkinson and the Wrexham hierarchy, led by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, will have tough decisions to make regarding the future of several key players. Goalkeepers Mark Howard, Rob Lainton, and Liam Hall, defenders Callum McFadzean, Aaron Hayden, Jordan Tunnicliffe, and Ben Tozer, as well as midfielders James McClean and Luke Young, are all set to become free agents this summer.
Additionally, first-choice goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo’s loan deal from Arsenal is coming to an end, with his parent club yet to offer him a new deal. Parkinson has meetings scheduled with Wrexham director Shaun Harvey and the club’s owners to discuss plans for next season.
“The massive challenge for us is can we build this squad strongly to challenge in League One, and I am really looking forward to taking on that challenge throughout the summer months,” Parkinson said.
As Wrexham prepares for their biggest step-up since the Hollywood takeover, Parkinson acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead. “The jump from League Two to League One is a bigger leap than the one from the National League to League Two,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we have a squad that is really strong and can cope with what will be a big season for the football club.”
Despite the uncertainties surrounding the squad, Parkinson remains focused on maintaining the team’s spirit and unity. “We need to add to what we’ve got over the summer, but we also have a group of lads who have taken us a long way,” he added. “This is a fantastic club to be at on an upward trajectory, and we know that the club’s only going one way.”