Phil Parkinson has transformed Wrexham since his arrival in 2021.
Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney decided to part ways with manager Dean Keates in the summer of 2021 and appoint Parkinson as the man to take them back to the Football League.
Four years down the line, Wrexham have achieved three successive promotions and the appointment looks an inspired one. Parkinson was chosen for his Championship experience by Shaun Harvey.
There have been many heroes during the course of those promotions and whilst the stand-out player Paul Mullin has joined Wigan Athletic on loan, another star of the show has been his partner Ollie Palmer.
Palmer joined the Red Dragons in January 2022 and made a significant impact on the team, however, Parkinson has just been told that he made an even better signing than the 33-year-old forward.
READ MORE: Paul Mullin could make his Wrexham return against these Championship clubs on one condition
Phil Parkinson told Elliot Lee was a better signing than Ollie Palmer
Speaking on the latest episode of the ‘Rob.Ryan.Red’ podcast, journalists Rich Fay and Nathan Salt have been ranking Parkinson’s signings since arriving at the Racecourse Ground.
No surprise, Mullin was ranked as Parkinson’s best signing during his tenure but Elliot Lee was ranked as number two, ahead of Palmer.
Fay stated: “I guess Lee has had a bigger impact in the matches himself.”
To which Salt replied with: “I actually think number two could be highly disputed but look we went up in League One and our top scorer was Elliot Lee so even though he took that step back, he was still effective evidently.
I just think Elliot Lee, what he produced in that National League season, the goals, the style, the panache, the flair, he has been one of my favourite players.”
Phil Parkinson’s top three Wrexham signings could all miss out on Championship football
The sad reality of football is that every player has their ceiling and in the cases of Mullin, Palmer and Lee, Wrexham may feel that the Championship is a step too far.
Mullin has already departed and Ollie Palmer has been told he can leave the club by the manager after spending the second half of the League One campaign out of the matchday squads.
Central midfield is a priority position to strengthen this summer and Wrexham are in talks with Stuart Armstrong over a possible move.
Wrexham have bid for Lewis O’Brien and hold a long-term interest in free agent Tom Lawrence. Should the Red Dragons acquire these targets, Elliot Lee’s future could be in doubt.
If the three players do depart North Wales this summer, they will do so with many fond memories and the knowledge that they have left a lasting legacy at the club.