Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson suffered a first league defeat of the season on Monday night, falling to a 3-1 loss at Birmingham City.
All eyes were on St Andrew’s on Monday night as Wrexham made the trip to take on big-spending Birmingham City.
Most of the build-up this game surrounded celebrities with Tom Brady stoking a rivalry with Rob McElhenney whilst David Beckham even attended the game.
Yet once the clock struck 8pm, this was all about 22 players on the pitch – and Wrexham started brilliantly with Jack Marriott’s early opener.
Wrexham were superb in the first 20 minutes but Birmingham dominated from there with Jay Stansfield bagging a brace.
Tomoki Iwata fired home number three as Birmingham just proved too strong for Wrexham, even with a late red card for Krystian Bielik.
Phil Parkinson on Birmingham City spending
This one will hurt for Wrexham on multiple fronts.
The first league defeat of the season certainly hurts but so will losing the streak of four league clean sheets in a row.
Phil Parkinson will have no complaints really; Wrexham were simply beaten by the better side on the night.
Birmingham’s spending has made big headlines this summer and far eclipses anything Wrexham invested in the market.
Parkinson has now told BBC Sport that Birmingham were actually outbidding Wrexham on potential signings over the summer.
Parkinson claims that the Blues were able to just keep going higher and higher on the financial front, pricing Wrexham out of the race.
“Every player we were going for, they were outbidding us or offering more wages,” said Parkinson.
“It was almost ‘let them sign who they want and everyone else will look for what else is out there’. No-one can compete in this division in terms of their spending and it would have been madness for us. If I was in their position, you’d get the best possible players you can and that’s what they’ve done.
“But as much as we haven’t got carried away with our start, you can’t get too carried away with Birmingham. With the options they’ve got, they will take some beating. It was a good performance by them, but there is a lot of football to be played,” he added.
Wrexham have done this to other clubs; Peterborough United wanted Lewis Brunt but Wrexham offered him much higher wages to strike a deal.
That is just the nature of the transfer window and whilst Wrexham benefited over other clubs in some instances, Birmingham were able to win on other signings.
One transfer stands out after Parkinson claim
Wrexham fans will wonder who Parkinson may be referring to here.
Wrexham did hold an interest in signing Alfie May back in 2023 according to The Express and may have eyed him again before his move from Charlton Athletic to Birmingham.
One name stands out though after Birmingham snapped up midfielder Marc Leonard, pictured above, from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Wrexham wanted to sign Leonard after two impressive years on loan at Northampton Town and were thought to be leading the race alongside Birmingham.
The Blues ended up winning the race, paying around £500,000 to sign Leonard.
The Scot came off the bench against Wrexham on Monday night but faces a battle for first-team minutes after Birmingham’s spending spree.