Wrexham are chasing third straight promotion into the Championship this season whilst one former defender attempts to mastermind a route out of League Two.
Going from the National League to League One in such rapid fashion meant Wrexham needed to make some big changes to Phil Parkinson’s squad.
Wrexham spent just shy of £2million over the summer, bolstering Parkinson’s squad for the League One challenge ahead.
That investment is paying off now as Wrexham sit second in League One, level on points with leaders Wycombe Wanderers.
Ryan Reynolds wants another promotion this season and Parkinson has Wrexham in a strong position right now.
There is a long way to go but Wrexham have hope – and so does a former Wrexham defender as he chases a promotion of his own.
David Artell pushing for Grimsby Town promotion
We recently looked at three former Wrexham players who are now working for League One rivals.
Down in League Two, former Wrexham defender David Artell is catching the eye as Grimsby Town boss.
Wrexham fans may remember Artell arriving on loan from Northampton Town back in 2013, offering another defensive option.
Artell did enough to win a permanent deal in September 2013 and saw out the 2013-14 season before heading to Bala Town.
The former Gibraltar international cut his managerial teeth with Crewe Alexandra and guided them to promotion in 2020, but is now in charge of League Two side Grimsby Town.
Grimsby now sit fifth in the League Two table, just two points off the top three and six points off top spot.
Grimsby have been a strange case this season; only one of their 19 League One games have finished in a draw.
Artell has won 10 and lost eight, meaning Grimsby have been an ‘all or nothing’ type team season.
Artell chasing success with three former Wrexham players
There are even three former Wrexham players in the Grimsby squad right now.
One is on loan from Wrexham with midfielder Jordan Davies currently at Blundell Park.
Grimsby fans want Davies to sign permanently with his performance catching the eye so far this season.
Defender Doug Tharme is also part of the Grimsby squad having signed from Blackpool in January 2024.
Tharme came up in the Wrexham ranks as a kid but played just seven first-team games before joining Curzon Ashton in 2020.
Tharme has worked his way into the EFL and whilst he has been in and out of the Grimsby lineup, he is an important squad player under Artell.
Then there is Rekeil Pyke, who joined Wrexham on loan from Huddersfield Town for the first half of the 2018-19 season having briefly featured on loan in 2016.
Pyke hit five goals in 23 league games for Wrexham, earning himself a move to Rochdale in the process.
Now 27, Pyke joined Grimsby from Shrewsbury Town in 2023 and has scored eight times in 38 games whilst playing as a striker or winger.
The Wrexham connections don’t even end there; Artell’s assistant Shaun Pearson was a favourite at Wrexham with more than 130 league appearances to his name.
Former defender Pearson has praised McElhenney and Reynolds whilst Reynolds branded him ‘one of the best’ after his retirement.
So many Wrexham connections at one club is quite the sight and Wrexham fans may well have a soft spot for Grimsby this season as a result.