Wrexham face Liverpool with Premier League still in their sights despite setback
Wrexham, promoted three times in four years under co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, face Liverpool in a pre-season friendly at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, just five years after the pair took over a club then in the National League. Manager Phil Parkinson says there is now genuine expectation on the club to continue its rise towards the Premier League, even after missing out on the Championship playoffs on the final day of last season.
Parkinson insists finishing seventh in the Championship at the first attempt was a strong achievement given the scale of the club's rapid climb, and his side go into the Liverpool match in confident form having already beaten Manchester United and Leeds in pre-season. However, Wrexham remain the only Championship club yet to make a summer signing, though a deal for Crystal Palace full-back Danny Imray is close, and Parkinson has warned the division will be tougher next season with relegated West Ham, Burnley and Wolves bringing parachute payments into contention for promotion.
- Wrexham play Liverpool in pre-season five years after National League takeover
- Club missed Championship playoffs but Parkinson calls last season a success
- Wrexham yet to sign a player, with Danny Imray deal close
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Wrexham is a football club from north Wales that has experienced a remarkable rise since being taken over by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2021. The club was in the National League (the fifth tier of English football) when they arrived, but has since been promoted three times in four years and now competes in the Championship (the second tier).
Last season, Wrexham finished seventh in the Championship on their debut in the division, just missing out on the playoffs. Reaching the Championship for the first time in fifteen years has created expectations that the club can continue climbing towards the top flight.
However, Wrexham will face tougher competition next season as relegated Premier League clubs—West Ham, Burnley and Wolves—join the Championship with parachute payments available to help their recovery. These financial advantages could significantly affect the race for promotion places that Wrexham is pursuing.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Wrexham's trajectory from National League to Championship football in three years represents genuine, sustained progress under competent ownership and management. Finishing seventh in their first Championship season, whilst short of playoffs, was nonetheless a creditable achievement, and their convincing pre-season victories over Manchester United and Leeds demonstrate they possess quality competitive with stronger sides. With ambition, investment, and a track record of successful operation across multiple football levels, Wrexham has established itself as a genuine contender for further progression up the English football pyramid.
The case against
Despite their impressive rise, Wrexham's failure to secure a playoff place—when such expectations existed—indicates the steep competitive challenge of Championship football. Their lack of summer signings thus far raises legitimate concerns about squad readiness and recruitment planning, whilst the arrival of three newly-relegated clubs with substantial parachute payments (West Ham, Burnley, Wolves) will significantly strengthen the competition for promotion places. Achieving sustained progression through multiple consecutive promotions remains exceptionally rare in English football history, making realistic assessment of mounting obstacles prudent.