Wrexham made a bold decision in the summer of 2021.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had been in charge of the club for a matter of months when former manager Dean Keates departed the Racecourse Ground.
Keates had finished just outside the playoffs in the National League and Shaun Harvey was tasked with finding a suitable replacement to bring Wrexham back into the Football League.
The search was extensive and the club had many applicants. Phil Parkinson was the man that was chosen and has since guided the Red Dragons to the Championship.
With Wrexham’s tough Championship schedule now released, we are about to find out whether Parkinson can live up to the reason why he was brought to North Wales.
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Shaun Harvey appointed Phil Parkinson for his ‘Championship experience’
Speaking on the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary, season one episode three, Harvey explained the reasoning behind the club’s choice to appoint Parkinson.
Harvey stated: “Phil Parkinson with his Championship experience, he has improved teams year on year and knows how to win games.
“He has a track record that is better than that of a National League manager.”
Humphrey Ker also highlighted Parkinson’s ability to get sides promoted and the Wrexham boss has certainly shown those capabilities since arriving in North Wales.
Ker stated: “Most managers will work their entire lives to have just one promotion, Parkinson has done it three times.”
Phil Parkinson has a point to prove in the Championship
Parkinson’s Championship record is not the greatest having managed Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic in the second tier.
However, he went into those campaigns managing two struggling sides and with Parkinson having managed 1000 games, he now enters the division with a wealth of experience behind him.
| Championship Record | Matches | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Points | PPM |
| Parkinson | 141 | 26 | 37 | 78 | 115 | 0.82 |
Wrexham’s owners will also back him in the transfer market and having already completed the signing of Ryan Hardie, further additions are expected.
It will not be easy this season and Wrexham fans have realistic expectations. However, for Parkinson, he enters the season with a real point to prove that he can mix it with the best.