If Paul Mullin had been holding out for a sign from Phil Parkinson about his Wrexham future, he got just that this week with the Red Dragons’ trip to Cambridge United.
Unfortunately, Paul Mullin was nowhere to be seen again in the matchday squad as Wrexham could only muster a 2-2 draw against their relegation-threatened opponents on Tuesday night.
The point keeps Wrexham in second place in the League One table with six games to go, but the question on everyone’s mind is why Mullin isn’t playing anymore.
Experts believe Mullin has dropped down the pecking order, and frankly, they’re right. But, it makes the Wrexham legend’s next decision very easy, really.
Paul Mullin’s latest snub is a bitter pill to swallow
We are used to Mullin not making the matchday squad these days. In fact, he’s not travelled with the team since the end of January, with new signings Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith becoming the favoured partnership up top for Phil Parkinson.
The problem is, last night for the Cambridge clash, Parkinson took five peripheral players with him to sit on standby in case of emergency. As per the RobRyanRed podcast, those players were Callum Burton, Seb Revan, Harry Ashfield, George Evans, and Mo Faal.
That must feel like a kick in the teeth for Mullin, who is essentially now, at best, sixth in line for a mere reserve place in the matchday squad, behind the initial 18, of course.
It’s a damning indictment of where Mullin stands now with Wrexham. We half expected a surprise recall for Mullin last night, but now, we wouldn’t be surprised if he never plays for the Red Dragons again.
Whether Wrexham want him or not, it’s time for Paul Mullin to push for exit
Judging by his social media post before the game last night, Mullin was gutted to miss the Cambridge match, especially given it’s his former club.
Now, after Parkinson’s latest snub, it’s surely time for Mullin to make Wrexham his former club, too.
For months now, we have been deliberating over whether Wrexham want Mullin and why he’s slipped out of the squad. Now, it’s time for Mullin to take control of the situation and make it clear to the club that he doesn’t want to be there anymore.
Wrexham chief Humphrey Ker said Mullin has a ‘huge future’ at the club, and has simply had a difficult time with injuries this season.
But, as sad as it is, and as painful as that goodbye would be, Mullin simply has to put sentiment aside and find himself a new club that will value him and give him gametime.
He’s 30-years-old now. By no means is his career over, but he is heading for the twilight years now, and he should not be wasting them by watching games at home — he should be on the pitch, impacting the match.