Captain Luke Young departed Wrexham on good terms this summer and the midfielder has now explained why he has even ‘more respect’ for Phil Parkinson.
The hardest part of winning promotion for Wrexham was letting go of the several players who helped them on their journey.
Phil Parkinson released the likes of Ben Tozer, Aaron Hayden and Luke Young at the end of their contracts.
Whilst Tozer and Hayden have found new clubs since leaving the Racecourse Ground, joining Forest Green Rovers and Carlisle respectively, Young is still awaiting his next challenge.
The 31-year-old was a big hit during his time at Wrexham, amassing over 250 appearances while captaining them to consecutive promotions.
Reflecting on his time at the club, the Englishman has now said why he has even ‘more respect’ for Parkinson after leaving.
Why Luke Young has ‘more respect’ for Phil Parkinson
The Wrexham boss could have easily given the midfielder a new short-term deal at the club, knowing how much he’s enjoyed his six years with the Reds.
Instead, Parkinson knew it was the correct time for him to move on, explaining how Young deserved to play a prominent role elsewhere.
Parkinson was honest and upfront with his decision, claiming he couldn’t offer him regular football, and it was this refreshing honesty that has given Young even ‘more respect’ for the ex-Bradford City manager.
Speaking on the Rob Ryan Red podcast, he said: “When I looked at the bigger picture, it was probably the right time to be let go. The gaffer was honest and said, ‘It’s probably time for you to move on.’ He was honest in saying that obviously, I’ll not play as much as I wanted to have this year.”
He added: “I have that bit more respect for him, for telling me that they’re not going to offer me something rather than offering me another year.”
Who else could leave Wrexham this summer?
Wrexham have created more space in their squad by offloading several senior players, though the outgoings could continue.
Parkinson has already said that he’s open to letting a few players leave on loan, perhaps opening the door for Jake Bickerstaff, Jordan Davies and Sam Dalby to ply their trade temporarily elsewhere.
In terms of players the club could be willing to sell, striker Billy Waters tops that list, with the 29-year-old encountering struggles since joining from Barrow in March 2023.
He was only brought in as an emergency backup to Paul Mullin during their title-winning campaign and has since played just eight times.
Waters was even loaned out to Doncaster Rovers in January, though that spell was just as uneventful as he failed to score in 11 appearances.