Rob McElhenney has shared his ‘ultimate goal’ for Wrexham after Phil Parkinson delivered back-to-back promotions.
From spending 15 years trapped in the National League, Wrexham are now in League One for the first time since 2005.
The club’s meteoric rise has been accelerated by the incredible work of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, with the Hollywood owners showing ambition beyond most supporters’ wildest dreams.
While executive director Humphrey Ker is happy for the Reds to consolidate their position in the third tier next season, McElhenney and Reynolds are craving more success.
Indeed, a third promotion is being eyed up by the duo, with Reynolds claiming the club will go for broke to achieve an instant promotion to the Championship. McElhenney has also echoed that sentiment by expressing his desire to “win right now”, as opposed to building for the future.
Rob McElhenney outlines Wrexham’s ‘ultimate goal’
McElhenney and Reynolds were laughed at when they highlighted their ambitions to take Wrexham to the Premier League.
After all, when the duo tookover, Wrexham was seen as just a small town that hadn’t tasted third-tier football since 2005.
The idea of reaching the top flight was far-fetched, but fast forward to the present day and that dream is edging ever closer.
Phil Parkinson‘s men are just two promotions away from reaching the promised land and that remains McElhenney’s ‘ultimate goal’ for the club.
Speaking on the Collider Interviews YouTube channel, the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star said: “Getting to the Premier League is the ultimate goal and staying in the Premier League and staying sustainable.
“But again, that’s only assumed that we’re doing it in a fashion that the community supports. Because there are all sorts of ways to succeed and we feel as though there’s only a few paths that would be ethically viable to do.”
Wrexham want to reach the Premier League sustainably
Reaching the Premier League is the ultimate goal, but remaining there is the biggest challenge and McElhenney wants to do so sustainably, which is an admirable approach to take.
Having watched the likes of Bournemouth and Luton Town fly up the divisions on a limited budget, it has been proven that success can be achieved without spending a lot of money.
It would be viable for Wrexham to follow a similar model; still attracting ex-Premier League players or talents higher up, but also shopping for gems lower down the pyramid and abroad.
If McElhenney and Reynolds can strike a perfect balance to spending within their means and nailing an effective recruitment strategy, you wouldn’t back against the Reds shooting straight into the Championship.
After all, Parkinson has experience of winning promotion from League One having led Colchester, Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers to the second tier previously, though achieving three consecutive promotions with Wrexham would be uncharted territory.