Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer have been crucial figures since signing for Wrexham but found their game time very limited in the second half of 2024/25.
Wrexham signed Paul Mullin for free in the summer of 2021 after he had just helped Cambridge United win promotion to League One.
Ollie Palmer followed six months later, joining from AFC Wimbledon in that season’s January transfer window.
The pair formed a lethal partnership that fired the Red Dragons out of the National League and all the way up to the third tier.
However, Mullin was injured at the start of 2024/25 and after returning to the side, struggled to regain his top form.
Palmer featured heavily in the first half of 2024/25, but his game time was reduced post-January.
- READ MORE: Forget Danny Ings, Wrexham have already offered contract to long-term Paul Mullin replacement
Welcome to Wrexham should answer Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer question
Wrexham signed Sam Smith in a record transfer during the winter window, with Jay Rodriguez also arriving on January 31.
The duo became instant starters under Phil Parkinson and played out the remainder of 2024/25 as his primary forwards.
This made some sense as neither Mullin nor Palmer had been especially prolific in the first half of the season, hitting just three goals each.
But what was especially surprising is that after January 28, 2025, neither player featured at all in League One, and only Mullin (versus Mansfield Town on February 23) made a matchday squad.
Dropping them to the bench would have been understandable, but the fact that neither player was really featuring as a substitute in so many games was pretty remarkable.
However, an explanation for why Parkinson froze the duo out should finally be forthcoming this week when Season 4 Episode 6 of Welcome to Wrexham airs.
The previous episode ended with a teaser regarding Mullin and Palmer and the summary for Episode 6 is as follows: “As Wrexham AFC’s promotion chances hang on nine final matches, the Club faces change on all fronts: strikers Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer starting spots come into question while Shaun Harvey finds purpose beyond the boardroom.”
What Phil Parkinson has said about Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer
In the second half of 2024/25, the manager remained rather coy on the previously key duo.
Parkinson commented on Mullin and Palmer back in March, seeming to hint they could return – though that obviously didn’t happen.
He said: “The lads out of the team like Mulls and Ollie, who have both made significant contributions for us, they’re right with the group training hard every day and waiting for the moment because you never know when that moment is going to come, and you’ve got to be prepared for it as Lewis Brunt was at the weekend.”
More recently, the Wrexham boss spoke about plans for Palmer and Mullin shortly before the final game of 2024/25.
He said the duo are going to return for pre-season but offered no explanation for their snub in the previous months.
Parkinson stated: “Mulls and Ollie will always be legends at this club for what they’ve done. They’re under contract next year and they’ll be back in pre-season ready to go again.”