Carlton Palmer has now explained why Phil Parkinson won’t regret missing out on a ‘wonderful’ target.
Wrexham have encountered some difficulties since being promoted to League One.
In the National League and fourth tier, the Reds were able to outmuscle other clubs financially as Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds flexed their power in the market.
Now they’re competing against other clubs in the third tier, Wrexham have a similar budget to other sides in the division, making it harder to sign players.
Phil Parkinson experienced this when his attempts to sign Jason Kerr were thwarted, with the 27-year-old signing a new contract at his current club.
The Reds then experienced further misery when Conor Hourihane snubbed Wrexham despite the club placing a ‘big offer’ on the table.
The 33-year-old instead joined Barnsley in a player/coach hybrid role and now pundit Carlton Palmer has given his verdict on the move.
Carlton Palmer believes Phil Parkinson won’t regret missing out on Conor Hourihane
Hailed as “wonderful” during his time at Aston Villa, Hourihane captained Derby to promotion last term, scoring five and assisting eight in 41 appearances.
The Republic of Ireland maestro then made it clear that he was looking for a player/coach hybrid role following his release from the Rams, something his former club Barnsley could offer him.
Many felt Hourihane turning down Wrexham was a big issue after they offered him a lucrative contract however, Palmer believes his connections with the Yorkshire side and the role he was offered played the biggest part.
Speaking to Football League World, the 58-year-old said: “A lot of people are reading into the fact that Wrexham offered him a very lucrative contract, he was available on a free after leaving Derby County, and the fact that he turned them down, I don’t see this being an issue.
“The situation with Conor is that he was offered a player-coaches role, he’s 33, and he’s got Barnsley connections. So I would think all of those things factor into his decision not to go to Wrexham.”
Missing out on Conor Hourihane could be a blessing
Hourihane, like many players in the Wrexham squad, is approaching the end of his career as a footballer.
And whilst he would have brought his wand of a left foot to the Racecourse Ground, missing out on the veteran midfielder could be a blessing.
As previously mentioned, the club made a ‘big offer’ to sign him, which suggests they were willing to pay him a lot of wages.
Instead of targeting someone who has plans to retire very soon, McElhenney and Reynolds are better off going for younger players on lesser wages.
Their midfield target Marc Leonard, a 22-year-old who plays for Brighton, is the exact type of player they should be attracting to Wales to complement their experienced core.
In doing so, they’re shifting their focus from the present to the future, and that is how Wrexham can become more sustainable.