Wrexham may be battling for promotion in the final month of 2024/25, but one of their former players is doing his best to avoid relegation.
Wrexham will make history if they are able to secure promotion from the third tier of English football this season.
No side has managed to win three successive promotions when starting in the National League or higher.
But while Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ juggernaut continues its rise up the EFL, some of their former players have not fared as well in recent years.
Wrexham released a number of players after they finished second in League Two in the 2023/24 season.
Among the stars Phil Parkinson chose to release last year was defender Aaron Hayden.
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Former Wrexham star Aaron Hayden shines in Carlisle win
Not long after McElhenney and Reynolds took over, Hayden arrived at the Racecourse Ground from Carlisle United.
The centre-back instantly became a key figure under Parkinson, including reaching double figures in 2022/23 when the club’s 15-year stint in the National League finally came to an end.
But the decision was made last summer to release Hayden, who has since re-joined his former club in League Two.
It hasn’t been a great season for the defender, however, with Carlisle currently stuck in a relegation battle.
Hayden scored a key goal recently and was once again superb in a 2-0 win over Morecambe on Saturday.
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Aaron Hayden stats for Carlisle vs Morecambe
Morecambe are bottom of the fourth tier, meaning it was imperative that Carlisle picked up the three points on April 12.
Hayden was excellent across the 90 minutes, posting some very impressive stats en route to a rare clean sheet.
| Aaron Hayden | Stats vs Morecambe |
| Minutes | 90 |
| Clearances | 9 |
| Interceptions | 3 |
| Blocked shots | 1 |
| Ground duels (won) | 4 (3) |
| Aerial duels (won) | 10 (7) |
| Accurate passes | 15/19 (79%) |
Unfortuently, Carlisle are still seven points from safety with just four games and 12 points to play for.
They can, on paper, still stay up, but it does seem likely that Hayden will be back in the National League come 2024/25.