Wrexham can begin preparing for life in the Championship with the League One season officially done and dusted.
Wrexham beat Lincoln City 2-0 on Saturday afternoon to finish up the League One campaign in style.
Phil Parkinson already had promotion in the bag, but his Wrexham players remained professional until the very final whistle.
Wrexham finished the season with 92 points, five points clear of third-placed Stockport County.
Parkinson will now worry about his Wrexham players in Vegas, praying they all come back from the promotion party in one piece.
The boss will be busy preparing for next season, and reports suggest Wrexham will be splashing the cash this summer as Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds sense an opportunity for more success.
Phil Parkinson tees up clash against the team his family support
Wrexham’s final-day victory came hours after the Championship season came to an end.
Nail-biting races for the play-offs and survival were decided, with Coventry City and Bristol City securing top-six places.
At the bottom, Luton Town – Wrexham’s nemesis in play-off campaigns gone by – suffered back-to-back relegations with a defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
That means Preston North End managed to survive by the skin of their teeth having drawn 2-2 at Bristol City.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side have been in dreadful form but just about managed to do enough to preserve their Championship status.
That means PNE will face Wrexham in the Championship next season – and that means Parkinson will take on the club his parents support.
Parkinson was born in Chorley, just south of Preston, and he confirmed his parents had North End season tickets.
This tees up a rather emotional clash for Parkinson, with his family no doubt keen to watch both games between the two sides next season.
“Growing up, I can remember going to watch games with my dad, my brother and friends,” said Parkinson on ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ (Season 1, Episode 3).
“My mum and dad, actually, were Preston North End fans over in Lancashire. They were season ticket holders at Preston when they grew up,” he added.
PNE will now visit the STōK Cae Ras in the 2025-26 season, giving Parkinson a chance to beat the club which has meant so much to his family over the years.
Phil Parkinson record v PNE
Parkinson is no stranger to facing North End, though there will be something special about taking them on as Wrexham boss.
The two sides have not met for more than 25 years in league action but will be in the same division come August.
North End won the last meeting, beating Wrexham 1-0 at Deepdale in March 2000.
As for Parkinson, he has faced PNE 10 times as a manager – and won just once.
Parkinson first managed against North End back in 2006, suffering a 2-1 defeat as Hull City boss.
Parkinson’s only win came in November 2014, beating PNE 2-1 at Deepdale with Bradford City.
Five meetings as Bolton Wanderers boss brought just two points, so Parkinson will be keen to put that record right and claim three points against his old local team next season.