During the Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac era, one player has continued to defy expectations at the heart of Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham side.
Wrexham are gearing up for the 2025/26 Championship season, with the campaign set to present the toughest challenge for Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac-led club.
Phil Parkinson has experience managing at Championship level, whilst several of the older ranks, including James McClean, have notched game-time in the second-tier. However, the majority of the squad are stepping into uncharted territory.
There is no doubt that Parkinson has lingering doubts over some players who have not played at Championship level – he has already sanctioned a loan move for Paul Mullin to Wigan Athletic, and the Liverpudlian won’t be alone in the departures lounge this summer.
Whilst experience is top of the priority list this season for Parkinson, he will definitely not dispense of one Wrexham hero who has defied expectations throughout his tenure in North Wales.
Max Cleworth will once again play an integral role this season for Wrexham
The 2025/26 campaign will see a new-look Wrexham side take the stage, but one man who will still be one of the first names on the teamsheet is Max Cleworth.
As a fast-learning and bullying centre-back with masses of potential, Cleworth has continued to cement his place in the first team under Phil Parkinson. That has meant that, in spite of his tally of zero games in the Championship, Parkinson will look past that because of the heights he has hit in previous seasons.
Even in front of the goal, Cleworth has been crucial to Wrexham, popping up with seven goals in the 2024/25 League One season.
What makes his career even more impressive is the fact that he is the only member of the first team who is getting regular game time, who was at the club before Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took over.
Max Cleworth’s continued development could be a double-edged sword for Wrexham
As Wrexham enter the Championship, they will soon realise that many more eyes will be on them, not just from the newly formed US fanbase, but clubs, both national and worldwide.
If Cleworth continues his brilliant development at Wrexham, he will definitely catch the eyes of big clubs. He has all the hallmarks of a brilliant talent: young, exciting, and a proven trajectory of improving season by season.
Parkinson will undoubtedly wish that Cleworth can still perform at Championship level, but such a feat could leave his Wrexham future in jeopardy. One brilliant season in the second tier would pit him as one of the top defensive talents in the country, and that will alert plenty of Premier League clubs.