Wrexham fans can sit back for the summer and look forward to spending the 2025/26 campaign in the Championship. That’s some time away for now, but we’re looking ahead with an early prediction as to how the season might play out for the Red Dragons.
At the start of 2024/25, nobody quite expected Wrexham to be playing in the Championship next season, and yet here we are.
The Red Dragons just keep defying the odds, and their historic third-successive promotion has propelled them to new heights that haven’t been seen in 43 years.
But, Phil Parkinson’s record in the Championship is not the best, the Wrexham squad needs refreshing, and there are doubters once again ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
So, what does the future hold? Well, we don’t have a crystal ball, but we are able to put together an educated guess as to how next season will play out for Wrexham.
Wrexham can achieve comfortable midtable finish in Championship
Within Wrexham circles, it’s not an exaggeration to say that many are dreaming of yet another promotion next season, but surely that can’t happen, right? Well, it’s very, very unlikely, let’s just say that for now.
In reality, survival has to be the primary aim for the Red Dragons. Staying in the Championship is arguably more important than trying to escape it at the first attempt, and there’s a lot to be said for stability.
I’m not saying Phil Parkinson and his players need to temper their expectations or kill the dreams of the supporters; simply that the first task should be reaching safety as soon as possible before looking up the table at higher aspirations.
In fact, I firmly believe that, with the right signings and a lot of spirit, Wrexham can reach a comfortable and very respectable midtable finish in 2025/26.
We know Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are ready to bankroll an ‘assault’ on the Championship, and they will certainly upset the apple cart at times with Wrexham next season, but I don’t quite think they realise just how much would need to be spent to realistically have a shot at promotion.
The arrival (and return) of Wrexham and Birmingham will change the Championship completely, in almost irrevocable ways. The money flowing through the league already is huge, but we have two massive brands coming into the division now that are not afraid to throw money at the cause.
That will certainly spell trouble for smaller clubs with fewer resources, and will also keep the bigger clubs on their toes. Sadly, while Birmingham may very well have what it takes to grab their own back-to-back promotion, I believe Wrexham will have to be a little more patient.
What is Wrexham’s long-term plan?
Wrexham fans may not have to wait too long to see their team gain access to English football’s top table, though. Honestly, I can foresee Wrexham making it to the Premier League in the next two or three years.
That would be way ahead of the prediction made by Ryan Reynolds, who said Wrexham can reach the Premier League within the next decade.
Rob McElhenney is less concerned with promotion just now, insisting he is simply ‘grateful’ for the journey he and the club are going on.
But, we know that Wrexham will spend big now they’re in the Championship. And, with the revenue coming in from being in the Championship, who can blame them?
Of all the teams in the Championship, only Wrexham have never played in the top flight. We’ve a feeling that will change eventually.