Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has spoken candidly about the intense pressure that has accompanied the club's fairy-tale ascent under its Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The Heaviest Burden of Expectation
Appointed in July 2021 while the club was still in the non-league National League, Parkinson has masterminded an incredible three consecutive promotions. The journey has propelled Wrexham from relative obscurity to a global phenomenon, currently sitting 10th in the Championship and just three points from the play-off places. However, the path has not been smooth.
Parkinson revealed that the most challenging period followed a failed promotion bid in his first season. The subsequent campaign, with the club desperate to end a 15-year exile from the Football League, brought the greatest weight of expectation. "There has been expectation on us from day one, but I think the pressure was getting out of the National League," Parkinson stated at the Northern Football Writers' Association awards.
A Season That Defined Everything
The manager hinted that far more than league status was on the line during the epic 2022/23 title race with Notts County. He suggested that failure could have jeopardised the owners' long-term project and even curtailed the wildly popular Welcome to Wrexham documentary series.
"That was the big one because if that hadn't happened... then I don't think there would have been another series of the documentary," Parkinson admitted. "It would have been very difficult to keep things going. I felt that was the most pressured season." The relief was palpable when Wrexham finally secured the National League title with a record 111 points in April 2023.
Embracing the Challenge in New Leagues
According to Parkinson, promotion to League Two allowed the club to "finally breathe", and by the time they reached League One, they had learned to manage their newfound status. "We played down expectations, which was quite a good thing and went a little bit under the radar, or as much as you can do at Wrexham," he said.
The return to the Championship after 43 years has presented fresh tests. Despite a summer spend of around £33 million on new players, Parkinson's side lost three of their opening five matches. A 3-1 home defeat to QPR in September even sparked unfounded speculation about his future, which the club's hierarchy swiftly condemned as an "absolute disgrace".
Through all the turbulence, Parkinson's steady leadership has been a constant. He remains bullish about the owners' ultimate ambition of Premier League football, citing the examples of Burnley and Luton Town. "You get there by having good people working at the football club and a calmness when things go against you," he concluded.
