The future of Paul Mullin has caused much debate amongst fans and Phil Parkinson’s recent comments on one player look to spell bad news for the striker.
Since his arrival from Cambridge United back in 2021, Paul Mullin has been arguably the most important player in Wrexham’s rise up the EFL.
However, 2025 has seen the previously crucial player fall heavily out of favour under Phil Parkinson.
Wrexham fans aren’t happy with Mullin being left out, but the striker has now missed the club’s last nine League One fixtures.
The striker did have a shin injury initially but has been fit for some time and still isn’t even making the bench.
This comes despite the fact that up until Saturday, Jay Rodriguez had not scored a single goal since his January move from Burnley.
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Phil Parkinson comments on Jay Rodriguez are bad news for Paul Mullin
Wrexham fans have hit out at Rodriguez on several occasions and still weren’t convinced by the striker after he missed a penalty and netted the rebound to score his first goal in 11 games on March 22nd.
On paper, given Sam Smith is the club’s record signing and has scored three since his own winter transfer, Rodriguez was the most likely of the duo to be dropped.
However, what Parkinson has been saying about the former Southampton man this week probably isn’t great.
The Wrexham manager labelled Rodriguez ‘extraordinary’ after the meeting with Stockport on Saturday.
Parkinson praised the striker’s off-the-ball work as well after the meeting, while also dubbing him a ‘great character’.
He said: “Jay has worked tirelessly for the team, with the ball and out of possession as well.
“He’s a great character to have around but, of course, all strikers want to score. We’ve just been speaking to him about making sure he keeps contributing so we win games of football and we have been doing that, but of course, that moment is key for him and the lads are obviously delighted for him because he deserved it.”
Had the 35-year-old gone an 11th match without scoring, it may finally have been time for him to be dropped.
However, Parkinson is clearly enamoured with the player and now he’s finally scored, the Red Dragons boss can justify his continued inclusion in the eleven despite fans not being overly happy with his performances.
This, of course, means Mullin’s exile from the eleven looks set to continue and unless there are injuries or suspensions, it does look as though the 30-year-old may already have played his final game in 2024/25.
How much is Paul Mullin worth
What the future holds for Mullin beyond the close of the current campaign remains to be seen.
Wrexham will lose Steven Fletcher in the summer when his contract expires but that still isn’t likely to guarantee the Liverpool-born hitman a return to the side.
There is a good chance the Welsh outfit get promoted this season and if that does happen, it does seem likely Mullin will probably have to move on as he can’t even get into a League One team, never mind a side looking to survive the second tier.
The centre-forward remains under contract until 2027, though, and Transfermarkt currently value him at €650,000 (around £543,000).