Wrexham signed a plethora of players during the 2024 summer transfer window, with some faring much better than others in 2024/25.
Following their promotion to League One in 2023/24, Wrexham were backed heavily in the most recent transfer window by owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
Phil Parkinson was able to bring nine new faces to the Racecourse Ground, while two further free-agent additions arrived last month.
The majority of the club’s recent transfers have excelled since their arrival in Wales, with George Dobson earning a comparison to Bobby Moore after he joined on a free from Charlton Athletic.
Dobson has been tipped to win Wrexham’s Player of the Season award by one expert but while he is thriving, one of the 27-year-old’s midfield counterparts is really struggling.
The man in question is former Rotherham United captain and MVP, Ollie Rathbone.
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Ollie Rathbone not happy with Wrexham playing time under Phil Parkinson
Wrexham signed Rathbone for £500,000 in mid-August – a club record fee until it was broken by Modou Faal a few weeks later.
Rathbone featured 42 times for Rotherham in 2023/24 and was one of their most important players, captaining the side on numerous occasions.
However, the 28-year-old has really struggled to cement himself as a regular feature in Wales during the first few months of the current campaign.
| Ollie Rathbone Wrexham vs Rotherham stats | Appearances (starts) | Goals | Assists | Total minutes |
| Wrexham (2024/25) | 11 (4) | 1 | 0 | 442 |
| Rotherham (2023/24) | 42 (38) | 1 | 1 | 3,301 |
Now, after being demoted to a fringe player under Parkinson, the midfielder has opened up on his lack of playing time at Wrexham, as per Leader Live.
He said: “I respect the manager’s decision. I think the lads that have been playing have done really well.
“We’ve been getting results so I’ve not had any kind of issues with that, but it’s obviously difficult.
“I’ve been coming on and doing my best, and trying to make as much impact as possible, but it is kind of difficult to really make a proper impact when you have 20 or 30 minutes.
“If you get a run in the side then you can build up some form and you get some confidence going. Hopefully, I get that but it is whatever is best for the team.”
Will Ollie Rathbone start for Wrexham vs Lincoln City
The Blackburn-born star was in from the off this past weekend when Wrexham beat Exeter City 3-0.
It was a rare start for the player, with Rathbone earning praise from an England international after scoring his first goal for the club.
However, it is expected that the former Rotherham ace will once again be dropped when Wrexham face Lincoln City in midweek.
Andy Cannon missed the Exeter meeting after picking up his fifth yellow card of 2024/25 in the defeat to Stockport County.
But with Cannon now available again, Dobson continuing to shine, and Elliot Lee as impressive as ever, Parkinson will more than likely bench Rathbone yet again.
The summer addition is likely to start at least one match in the coming weeks, however, as the aforementioned Dobson is close to suspension, meaning he will need to be replaced at the base of midfield for one of Wrexham’s upcoming fixtures.