Wrexham are back in League One action later this week, facing off with Wycombe Wanderers.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ side have had a remarkable debut season in League One, putting themselves firmly in the picture to secure automatic promotion.
But with Birmingham City set to run away with the title, the battle to secure the second and final automatic promotion spot is heating up.
Huddersfield Town were expected to be in contention to, but the Yorkshire outfit have fallen away in recent weeks.
In turn, it is now a straight shootout between Wrexham and Wycombe, who are set to meet on Saturday afternoon.
The Chairboys go into the match above Phil Parkinson’s side on goal difference and with a game in hand.
So, it’s obvious the Red Dragons must pick up the win to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive.
And had things gone differently a couple of years ago, Wrexham could have been lining out with a former Wycombe player in their eleven.
Wrexham tried to sign Wycombe star Brandon Hanlan to replace Paul Mullin
Back in the summer of 2023, Wrexham were beginning their first season outside of the National League in 15 years.
However, they were doing so without their top goalscorer form the previous two campaigns, Paul Mullin, who ended up missing the opening six league matches of that campaign due to injury.
But Wrexham were in the market for a new centre-forward, with GOAL reporting at the time that the club were set to sign Brandon Hanlan from Wycombe as a replacement for Mullin.
Halan was even left out of a matchday squad, forcing manager at the time, Matt Bloomfield, to comment on the situation, as per the Bucks Free Press.
He said: “There is speculation but I want to say too much on that situation.
“We love him and I love him to bits, but there is obviously a reason why he wasn’t part of the squad this evening.
“He wasn’t in the squad which is disappointing when you’re chasing a goal in the second half as he’s been extremely good for us.”
However, the 27-year-old would remain at Wycombe that summer before eventually departing on January 31st, 2025, to join Stevenage.
Phil Parkinson message ahead of Wycombe
While Hanlan will play no role on Saturday because he has left Wycombe, Mullin is unlikely to feature as he has fallen out of favour.
The striker has been omitted from seven of the last eight matchday squads, including the 2-0 defeat to Reading on Tuesday.
Following that game, Parkinson was looking for his Wrexham players to bounce back against their promotion rivals, as per BBC Sport.
He said: “We’ve just got to pick ourselves up quickly and we will, we’ll be ready for action.
“There’s a lot to play for. Sometimes things go for you, sometimes they don’t but we’ll come back ready to respond at the weekend.”