Many are questioning whether Wrexham can cope with Championship football next season.
The Red Dragons will be taking on the likes of Leicester and Southampton in the 2025/26 campaign after three successive promotions under Phil Parkinson – something that has never happened before in English football.
However, the Foxes and the Saints will be buoyed by parachute payments after relegation from the Premier League, as the quality of the Championship seemingly becomes far greater with each passing season.
Therefore, many have wondered whether Wrexham can keep surging up the English football ladder as they have done in recent years – with James McClean now defiantly responding to these doubters.
James McClean backs Wrexham to keep proving people wrong
Leader Live now quote the Republic of Ireland international as saying: “It will be intense and it will obviously be very difficult and the higher you go up, the quality in both boxes makes a difference, but we would prefer to play at a higher level. Some players have never played in League One before and they’ve embraced it. They have been brilliant like young Max Cleworth for example.
“I have no doubts at all that people will step up and perform even better. It was the same as last season. When the pressure is on and the backs are against the wall, we stand up time and time again.”
Sometimes, momentum and belief can carry a side much further than people think in the Championship.
Southampton were able to achieve two successive promotions from League One into the Premier League back in the 2011/12 campaign, largely using the same squad they had in the third tier, so it is possible for Wrexham to defy the odds.
Who Wrexham could sign
Despite McClean – who called out Jake Paul – having confidence in his current teammates, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are still looking to make improvements, with several players already linked.
Tom Lawrence is believed to be a target for Wrexham, as the Wrexham-born attacker nears the end of his contract at Rangers.
Furthermore, Swansea defender Harry Darling is being linked with Wrexham too, so the Red Dragons are still expected to make some additions despite the belief of McClean.