Phil Parkinson has dropped an update on when his Wrexham players will have their future decided following promotion.
Wrexham cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, capping off their away trips in the 23/24 season in style.
Phil Parkinson has seen an upturn in form on their travels in recent weeks, claiming victory in four of their last five away games.
The Reds have one more game to play this term, a home fixture against Stockport County next weekend, as the two sides prepare for life in League One.
It will be Wrexham’s first time in the third tier in 2005 and adequate preparation will be required as Parkinson accepts the jump is massive.
The former Bradford City manager will have a huge budget to play with, as facilitated by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, but first, he must resolve the futures of his current squad.
Phil Parkinson drops update on out-of-contract Wrexham players
Wrexham have a big summer ahead in terms of incomings and outgoings.
The Welsh side currently have eight players whose contracts expire this summer, including goalkeepers Mark Howard and Rob Lainton, defenders Callum McFadzean, Ben Tozer, Aaron Hayden and Jordan Tunnicliffe, utility man James McClean and midfielder Luke Young.
Realistically, McClean is the only player on that list whom Wrexham should consider giving a new deal, despite the Irishman turning 35 recently.
Indeed, Parkinson wants the club to resolve his players’ futures as soon as possible having had discussions with sporting director Shaun Harvey.
As per The Leader, Parkinson said: “I have had talks with Shaun Harvey and will have further chats this week with Shaun and the owners about how we are going to approach everything.
“There are a lot of players out of contract.
“There are some decisions to be made about players and it is about sitting down as staff and making the right ones.
“Of course you have got to let people know about their futures as soon as we can but equally, we want to make the right decisions and that is what we intend to do.
“We will have further talks this week and made the decisions we feel are right for the individual and for the team going forward.”
Wrexham require a squad overhaul
With as many as eight players poised to depart the Racecourse this summer, Wrexham face a potential squad overhaul.
It isn’t uncommon for a team to completely alter the makeup of their squad following promotion. But the Reds must target younger stars to replace the likes of Tozer, Young and Howard – three players in their 30s and approaching the twilight years of their careers.
Parkinson wants to resolve his players’ futures as soon as possible, so he can make space for the targets he wants to bring in.
One of those is goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who will return to Arsenal upon the expiry of his loan spell, but Wrexham want to sign him on a free transfer.
Okonkwo has been a revelation between the sticks and keeping the 22-year-old – as explained by journalist Nathan Salt – could foreshadow a successful summer of business.
As the careers of several Wrexham players draw to a close, namely the long-serving Young and Tozer, the Reds will want to celebrate their farewell in the best way possible by beating Stockport next weekend.