Paul Mullin has backed Wrexham to overcome one ‘difficult’ challenge after winning promotion to League One.
Wrexham are back in the third tier of English football for the first time since 2005 and Phil Parkinson has delivered successive promotions for the first time in the club’s history.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds armed Parkinson with the budget to get the Reds up at the first time asking, but it was one current player, Paul Mullin, who fired them there.
Despite missing the first eight matches of the campaign with a punctured lung, the Liverpudlian still plundered an impressive 26 goals in all competitions, with a remarkable 14 in his last 12 matches.
Mullin’s incredible form towards the business end of the season ensured Parkinson’s men would celebrate promotion and the 29-year-old has now said why he thinks it will be a ‘difficult’ challenge.
Paul Mullin believes Wrexham can overcome ‘difficult’ challenge
Wrexham will go from playing against Accrington Stanley to picking their wits against the likes of Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City next season.
It’s a far cry from travelling to places like Boreham Wood on a Tuesday night, as they did a few years ago, but Mullin accepts it will be a harder challenge than ever.
Speaking on the Men In Blazers podcast, the former Cambridge striker said: “I think there’s a lot of massive sides in League One who are probably unfortunate to be there, or end up there due to financial problems. But massive clubs who shouldn’t be competing at that level.
“It’s going to be a difficult challenge next season but it’s one I’m looking forward to; that’s why you’re a footballer for the challenges and the hard games. I think over the last few years we’ve built up a real resilience and a trust that when we play in the hard games we can deliver.”
Although their Hollywood owners have outlined promotion as their aim, Mullin’s response to that is humble and he knows how difficult the league is having struggled last time at Tranmere Rovers.
Nonetheless, Wrexham will be more equipped than his former side as he looks to improve on his goal tally of three in 20 the last time he played in League One.
Where does Wrexham need to strengthen this summer?
After letting go of eight first-team players, Wrexham have created some much-needed space in their permitted 22-man squad.
The most pressing issues McElhenney and Reynolds have to resolve are a goalkeeper, central defender and striker.
Ideally, Wrexham will capture Arthur Okonkwo on a permanent deal, but if they don’t, a new number one is the top priority.
Defensively, the Reds are also short on numbers after letting Ben Tozer, Aaron Hayden and Jordan Tunnicliffe depart upon their contracts expiring, so added cover will be needed in defence.
Parkinson currently has just Max Cleworth, Tom O’Connor, Eoghan O’Connell, Will Boyle and George Evans – who can slot into defence – to pick from.
As for their attack, Wrexham do have six strikers to choose from, but as they’re likely to offload Sam Dalby and Jake Bickerstaff, more firepower will needed to supplement the goals of Mullin.
Those are Wrexham’s main priorities, so if they can nail them and flesh out other areas of their squad, perhaps another promotion challenge could be on the cards.