Well, Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham AFC have marked three consecutive promotions and are set to feature in the Championship next season, captured on a Disney+ documentary, while Paul Mullin featured in the latest Deadpool film… imagine!
You do not have to; this is real and rather topical.
Many were not sure what to make of the news that two Hollywood stars were interested in the purchase of National League stalwarts Wrexham back in 2020, raising questions about the nature of the takeover and the actual extent of interest the pair had in the club.
But those questions have been answered on the pitch, with the club making exponential progress, becoming the first club to mark three consecutive promotions from the fifth tier of football to the Championship.
And this was not just on the pitch either, with increased stadium capacity, vast commercial revenue, and a newfound ‘buzz’ around the town, a small town in North Wales now hosts one of the most globally known clubs in the game, with interest in the lower divisions growing in tandem.
Now, a tier below the best in the business with little breathing room between the divisions, Wrexham are anticipated to face their greatest challenge under the Reynolds regime.
Neutrals have often defined the Red Dragons’ success towards Wrexham’s well-documented spending; however, success in the Championship could require a different approach to those previous, with the contingent of their divisional rivals formerly established in the Premier League.
However, the ambition at Wrexham has been clear since day one: reach the Premier League. But how will their first season in the Championship serve towards realising these dreams?
How did Wrexham fare last season?
Despite lucrative spending, Wrexham’s automatic promotion from League One was perhaps unexpected.
Approaching the 2024-25 season, many anticipated that their progress would “even out” in the face of former-Championship opposition.
However, Parkinson deserves credit for the progress made with his team.
Upon promotion to League Two, the North Wales outfit were largely attributed as a side to outscore the opposition, as told in the 5-3 defeat against MK Dons, a 5-5 draw with Swindon Town, and most notably a 5-4 elimination in the National League play-offs at the hands of Grimsby Town.
Tightening up defensively served Wrexham well as they cruised towards a comfortable second-place finish in League Two; this characteristic went on to define their promotion to the Championship.
Direct, physical, and ruthless in both boxes, Wrexham earned 24 clean sheets and held the second-best defensive record in the division, earning 92 points in League One – a greater return than the season prior in League Two.
Previous promotions were more attributed towards the potency of Paul Mullin, Ollie Palmer, Elliott Lee, and others, but last season showed Parkinson’s dynamism in the face of better opposition.
While the brand of football was potentially not the most appealing, the results speak for themselves. Lower division matches are won on game management in and out of dominant periods, which Parkinson’s men were excellent at.
Transfer activity so far
One issue that the club has begun to bear the brunt of is mass player turnover, equating to a bloated squad.
As is natural, exponential progress in football comes with large squad turnover, as the club has constantly looked towards transfer windows to continuously add to the current personnel.
Most notably, club legend and Marvel feature Paul Mullin has possibly become outgrown amid the club’s progress, being loaned to Wigan Athletic after struggling for consistent game-time last campaign.
Luke Bolton joined Mansfield Town on a permanent deal, while Will Boyle made the switch to rivals Shrewsbury Town.
Steven Fletcher is now without a club. The experienced centre-forward was vital in parts of the 2024-25 campaign.
There are several players still at the club who may need to seek opportunity elsewhere with the club now looking to step up to the Championship, such as Andy Cannon, Jacob Mendy, Mo Faal, and Ollie Palmer.
Arrivals at the Racecourse
However, it is needless to say that Wrexham have been busy in the transfer market.
Forward duo Ryan Hardie and Josh Windass arrived from Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, respectively. The pair registered a combined 23 goals in the Championship last season and will add a fantastic degree of experience in the division to Parkinson’s squad.
Standout midfielder George Thomason has made a step up to bigger things, joining from Bolton Wanderers, while Lewis O’Brien makes a notable arrival at the Racecourse, having joined Premier League side Nottingham Forest for a £10 million fee only three years ago, after excelling with Huddersfield Town.
The club is reportedly prepared to break their previous transfer record, lining up a move for Ipswich Town’s Nathan Broadhead, who was instrumental in the Tractor Boys’ consecutive promotions.
Connor Coady brings a fantastic character and leader into the Wrexham dressing room, with playing pedigree above the division. The former Wolves captain joins from Leicester City for a reported £2 million transfer fee, and goalkeeper Danny Ward will bring similar qualities.
New Zealand international Liberato Cacace joined from Empoli. The Kiwi is an excellent left-back, still with a great deal of potential at the age of 24.
Star players
One worry for Wrexham approaching the 2025-26 campaign will be the potentially bloated areas of the squad.
While Sam Smith, Jay Rodriguez, Ryan Hardie, and Josh Windass are all excellent, various other forwards in the squad, such as Palmer, will likely be omitted from their official squad for the season.
An obvious consequence of constant player turnover, this could risk a potentially poor squad morale.
However, this also comes alongside the fact that the Red Dragons’ squad boasts an excellent grade of depth.
The club has wasted no time in the transfer window in adding options experienced at and above the level, giving Parkinson’s squad a great chance at acclimatizing to the second tier.
Oliver Rathbone and George Dobson are an admirable duo in midfield, the pair complementing each other’s attributes to a tee. While veteran midfielder Matthew James oozes class at the heart of the Wrexham midfield.
Effective at both ends of the field, Max Cleworth is one of the best defensive prospects in the EFL and is learning from his more experienced teammates, Dan Scarr and Eoghan O’Connell, in Parkinson’s back three.
Ryan Longman, James McClean, and Ryan Barnett provide excellent, dynamic threats down the flanks, as both direct crossing threats and carriers of the ball, providing for a formidable strike force.
Sam Smith has long-awaited a chance at the Championship, while Wrexham also have experienced options in Rodriguez, Hardie, and Windass to rely on.
Where will Wrexham finish?
Perhaps the most unpredictable team in the division, although a fourth consecutive promotion may feel far-fetched.
As previously mentioned, Wrexham’s three consecutive promotions have broken a record in English football, leaving little ground for what to expect this season.
This is largely anticipated to be an opportunity for breathing space for Wrexham, where the goal is to establish in the second tier and set foundations for a push towards England’s top flight.
They are looking to do just that. The contingent of the squad is proven to be good enough for the division, while Lewis Brunt, Cleworth, and Smith have the potential to flourish at the opportunity.
Home form will be pivotal, and the Racecourse has been one of the most difficult nuts to crack in English football over recent seasons.
Could they do it again? Likely not, the step up to the Championship has often been found unforgiving; however, the current squad and the proven adaptability of Phil Parkinson should leave no suggestion of Wrexham being in any form of relegation danger.
Consolidation and a long-term vision should be the keywords moving forward, as their rapid trajectory is likely to slow down a tone, but space to breathe is perhaps welcome at the Racecourse.
