Phil Parkinson has now revealed the reason behind letting young striker Jake Bickerstaff depart Wrexham on deadline day.
A quiet January on a whole turned into a frantic deadline day at Wrexham as Phil Parkinson bolstered his squad with two quality additions, and very nearly added a third.
The Reds acquired Salford City wing-back Luke Bolton and Fleetwood Town striker Jack Marriott, who both look set to play a pivotal role in their quest for automatic promotion.
Bolton has gained vast experience across the EFL during his career, likewise so has Marriott. The former Derby County striker rose to fame for scoring that goal against Leeds United in the play-off semi-final in 2019.
After bolstering their ranks with two smart additions, Parkinson felt he had to move on several players and one of those was striker Jake Bickerstaff.
He started the season like a house on fire by scoring in two of his first three League Two appearances, but once the Reds nursed their other strikers back to full health, Bickerstaff saw his game time limited.
From playing 71 minutes in the draw against Barrow in August, the youngster only featured for 17 more minutes in the months that followed before being loaned out to Accrington Stanley on deadline day.
Parkinson has now revealed why he shipped him out by stressing the importance of the 22-year-old, who recently signed a new contract which keeps him at the Racecourse Ground until the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
Why Phil Parkinson decided to loan out Jake Bickerstaff
Bickerstaff is a player who is highly rated by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, which is a sentiment echoed by the Wrexham boss.
Speaking to the Leader, Parkinson said: “We got to the point where we had to look to get Jake out for his development,
“There were quite a few clubs in the National League interested and as the window closed there was a bit of interest from EFL clubs, and he chose to go to Accrington.
“We are watching his progress with interest and will monitor him closely.”
Bickerstaff can shine out on loan
It’s promising to know that Bickerstaff has a place in Parkinson’s plans once he returns from his loan, but for now, he has to show his worth to Accrington.
In the early stages of the campaign, he was revered for his raw finishing ability and the physical attributes he possessed which allowed him to press from the front.
He did make his debut for Stanley in their 0-0 draw against Grimsby Town on Saturday, however, he was used as a number 10, and his best position is as a lone striker.
If the League Two side can pump some quality cross into the box or set him free in behind, they will truly see the best of Bickerstaff, who has the tools in his locker to fire John Coleman’s side up the table.