Wrexham are pushing for another promotion but one former player is having to battle against relegation from League Two.
Wrexham fans are dreaming of more success under Phil Parkinson after two promotions in a row.
Now sitting third in League One, Wrexham have a genuine chance of a third straight promotion.
This would be another remarkable chapter in the story under Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds but some players haven’t been brought along for the ride.
McElhenney’s favourite player Luke Young moved on last summer whilst Ben Tozer joined Forest Green Rovers on a free transfer.
Wrexham had to make ruthless decisions in order to keep progressing through the leagues, which included letting Aaron Hayden go.
Aaron Hayden scores first Carlisle United goal
Wrexham tempted defender Hayden away from Carlisle in 2021 and he became a goalscoring force from centre back.
Hayden racked up 20 goals in 95 games for Wrexham, including 11 goals in the 2022-23 campaign.
Some forwards would be delighted with those numbers but Hayden drifted out of the plans last season and was let go as his contract came to an end.
Hayden re-signed for Carlisle United over the summer but this has been a testing season at Brunton Park.
Carlisle recently appointed Mark Hughes as their new manager in an attempt to avoid relegation from League Two.
Sitting bottom of the table, Carlisle are in real danger of back-to-back relegations – the kind of chain Hayden would be desperate to avoid after experiencing so much success at Wrexham.
Hayden may have been a goalscoring sensation at Wrexham but his first goal in his second Carlisle spell only came on Tuesday night.
Hayden rose highest to power a header home, securing a 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Walsall.
Rob McElhenney’s Aaron Hayden prediction finally comes true
One man who won’t be surprised is Rob McElhenney.
McElhenney predicted that Hayden would thrive in the air for Carlisle after seeing the defender complete his move.
‘You got a good one there. Get him in the air and watch a man fly…’ said McElhenney, suggesting that Hayden would bring his goalscoring form from Wrexham to Carlisle.
The goals haven’t been coming for Hayden so far but, 10 months on, his goal against Walsall was a perfect example of what McElhenney was talking about.
Nobody got close to matching Hayden’s leap as he headed home from a corner, giving Carlisle a share of the spoils – and he will hope for more goal to come as Carlisle battle against the drop.