Ryan Longman’s vast Championship experience will prove to be key to Phil Parkinson’s plans at Wrexham in the upcoming season.
Wrexham will compete in the Championship next season, with the Red Dragons returning to the second tier of the English football pyramid for the first time since the 1981/82 season.
With the success they have managed since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over the club, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will be hoping that his side can continue their momentum of three promotions into the new season.
Parkinson has made it clear that he needs to prioritise Championship experience in relation to recruitment next season, although he does have several players already in the current squad who have notched game time in the second tier.
One of whom is Ryan Longman, who, after his previous stint in the Championship, will have something to prove to Parkinson.
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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will be expecting Ryan Longman to improve on his previous Championship spell
Wrexham signed Ryan Longman in January 2025, and the winger has had a comfortable start to life in North Wales, playing an important role in Phil Parkinson’s squad.
Based on what we have seen of Longman so far, it is clear that he is head-and-shoulders above the majority of players at League One level, but with the jump up to the Championship, it raises questions as to whether he can maintain those performances we have become accustomed to.
In Longman’s previous spell in the Championship, he played for both Hull City and Millwall, the latter on loan, where he showed his qualities, but not quite on the consistent basis we have seen at the Racecourse Ground. Parkinson will surely be hoping that Longman can build on the momentum, like the rest of the players and hopefully have a great season.
What Ryan Longman has previously said about the Championship
After Wrexham had their place in the Championship confirmed in May, Ryan Longman spoke about the challenge ahead for the Red Dragons.
Longman said: “We keep in games, that’s what you need to do in the Championship. If you keep in the game, anyone can go and win it,” he said.
“We’re just going to embrace that challenge and enjoy it. We’ve just got to prepare ourselves in the off-season, recover, spend time with the families and have a really good pre-season and get back to it.
“It’ll be great to be playing back in the Championship, I know how tough it is. It’s just going to be exciting in those stadiums, the next level is just brilliant.”
As one of the Championship-experienced players within the side, Parkinson will be expecting Longman to become a leader in the dressing room next season.