Wrexham assistant manager Steve Parkin has defended the club's transfer strategy after Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder accused them of "blanket bombing half the division".
Wilder made the accusation after the Welsh side submitted a bid - believed to be in the region of £6.5 million - for one of his key players, midfielder Callum O'Hare. After the Blades ownership decided to approve the bid, the deal was confirmed on deadline day, with the former Aston Villa and Coventry City man putting pen-to-paper on a three-year contract in north Wales.
Hollywood-backed spending spree
With Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as co-owners, Wrexham have significant financial firepower and have not been afraid to splash the cash since their promotion to the Championship last year.
Last summer saw the Red Dragons sign 13 new players in a major squad overhaul, with Nathan Broadhead, Ben Sheaf and Callum Doyle the most expensive arrivals in a window in which they spent more than £30 million ahead of their return to the second-tier.
While they vowed to prioritise quality over quantity this summer, Reynolds and McElhenney got their chequebooks out again, parting with an estimated £34 million in transfer fees to boost their bid for promotion to the Premier League.
Record deals and deadline-day arrivals
Goalkeeper Nathan Patterson arrived in a club-record £8 million deal, with Crystal Palace defender Danny Imray and Preston North End captain Ben Whiteman also joining for the same amount combined.
Those deals were followed by left-back Jacques Ekomie signing from French side Angers for an estimated £7.5 million and last season's loanee Issa Kabore agreeing a permanent deal worth £2 million, while midfielder Joe Worrall arrived on deadline day alongside O'Hare for an estimated further £2 million.
This summer's business takes Wrexham's spending to £65 million following their promotion to the Championship and, having targeted several other names during the recent window, Wilder was clearly unimpressed with how his rivals had gone about their business.
Parkin hits back at Wilder criticism
"This is not a criticism but I think Wrexham are in for half of the division as well," he said as he confirmed the Welsh side's interest in O'Hare earlier this week.
"They've done business and that's their prerogative and what they need to do. But I know that there have been bids in on other players from that football club, in that position, as well. So, maybe a bit of blanket bombing in that position and see what comes up. It's not a done deal. If that changes, then that changes."
In response, Phil Parkinson's assistant Parkin has defended the club's strategy, insisting "we don't work like that" after beating a number of their Championship rivals to key targets this summer.
"I did read that," he said when asked about Wilder's comments ahead of Wrexham's league clash with Millwall on Wednesday night.
"Me and Chris go a long way back and he is no different to any other manager. If it looks as though key players are going to leave your football club, the natural thing is to be upset and I'm sure that was his reaction."
"In the cold light of day, we don't work like that," he added. "We earmark players that we would like to sign and that's the way we go forward. I'm looking forward to meeting up with him and having a beer, and see what he says to that."
