Wrexham confirmed the shrewd capture of George Dobson last weekend and that could now leave another player fighting for his future.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds instantly promised a push towards the Championship in 2024/25 and Wrexham are going the right way about achieving history next term.
The Reds were left elated when it was announced that loan revelation Arthur Okonkwo would be returning to the club permanently, while the capture of Lewis Brunt from Leicester City – ahead of third-tier rivals Mansfield Town – evoked similar levels of positivity.
Phil Parkinson then turned to improving his midfield and did so emphatically by capturing George Dobson on a free transfer. The 26-year-old was supposed to sign for Hungarian side Fehervar after leaving Charlton but his contract was terminated due to personal reasons.
Carlton Palmer believes the signing of Dobson shows their intent to challenge for promotion in League One, while it also leaves another player fighting for his future.
Jordan Davies is fighting for his place at Wrexham
A ball-winning machine and an exceptional leader, Dobson played as a defensive midfielder for Charlton last term, captaining them across 43 matches in the league.
The West Ham academy graduate significantly bolsters Parkinson’s engine room with experience, having featured 265 appearances in the third tier.
Dobson arrives in a competitive area of the pitch, which includes George Evans, Andy Cannon, Elliot Lee, James McClean, James Jones, Tom O’Connor and Jordan Davies, who can all play in one of those three midfield spots.
The former Charlton man can play in one of the number eight roles or as a six, while his arrival could spell trouble for Davies.
The Welsh midfield maestro has lost his way at Wrexham since the club were promoted to the football league. In the 2023/24 campaign, the 25-year-old started just twice and the rest of his 23 appearances all came from the bench.
With the arrival of Dobson and potentially another midfielder, perhaps Joe Morrell, the ‘sensational’ Wrexham talent could be frozen out of the squad completely.
Jordan Davies’ Wrexham contract expires in 2025
Davies was part of the Wrexham journey before the Hollywood owners tookover, with the former academy graduate returning to the club in the summer of 2020.
In the National League, the midfielder was an integral force in the engine room, producing a 15-goal haul in the 2021/22 season.
That contribution then lessened in 2022/23 – Wrexham’s title-winning campaign – as Davies scored just three times in 27 appearances.
A mixture of injury troubles and inconsistent form have seen him fall down the pecking order in recent times but the midfielder remains a fan favourite at the club, who they’d like to see get more game time.
Unfortunately, the chances of him playing regular football in the third tier are slim and with his contract expiring in 2025, Davies could see his journey at Wrexham come to an end next year.