Phil Parkinson reveals how Ryan Reynolds supported Wrexham after heartbreak

23 September 2023 , 18:12

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Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and manager Phil Parkinson combined to help the club eventually gain promotio (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.)

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has revealed how he and the club's famous chairmen learned from a failed promotion attempt to secure a return to the EFL.

When co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney assumed the reins at the North Wales outfit in 2020, they had been in the non-league since 2008. Head coach Parkinson has explained how the Red Dragons finally earned their place back in League Two.

The team's clash against Stockport County had given the 55-year-old the chance to look back on the time their opponents denied them promotion back in 2021-22. Having been beaten to an automatic slot via the National League by the Hatters, they eventually were agonisingly beaten by Grimsby Town in the playoffs.

The devastating loss meant that Wrexham also came alongside a heartbreaking defeat in the Football League Trophy final that season. However, Parkinson has opened up on how the disappointment of that campaign helped the Dragons to identify their remaining faults.

Speaking to The Leader in the lead up to Saturday's clash against Stockport - which ended in a thumping 5-0 defeat - Parkinson recalled: "We knew our squad wasn't good enough that season leading into January. We then made improvements and we had a real go at it, we gave everything we could.

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"But Stockport probably had a little bit more strength in depth at the time. We got to the summer and reviewed how we could improve it again with the staff and owners and then we got promotion."

As the former Sunderland boss alludes, the dismay after falling short eventually spurred Wrexham on to put things right in the next campaign. In the end, the Dragons would go on to secure the National League title during the season that followed with a record-breaking points tally.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has explained how promotion heartbreak helped the club to excel long-term (Nick Potts/PA Wire)

The Welsh club had added the likes of centre-back Jordan Tunnicliffe and midfielder Elliot Lee that summer, joining the January purchase of Ollie Palmer. The latter would dovetail to great effect last season with talisman Paul Mullin, as the pair scored 55 goals between them.

In the end, the Dragons would go on to secure the National League title the following season with a record-breaking points tally. Seeing off the challenge of Notts County, they secured their first league title in 45 years, while amassing 111 points.

Explaining how their previous shortcomings helped Wrexham build a blueprint for success, Parkinson added: "We are continually evolving as a team, not just bringing new players in but working with the ones we have got to keep getting better, and we have got to keep striving for that."

Tom Beattie