Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ambitious Wrexham are looking to win ANOTHER promotion as they end their 15-year Football League exile today
Wrexham fans who made the final day trip to Lincoln City on May 3, 2008, would never have believed it would take 15 years until they’d have the chance to see their side in another Football League match.
Alas, financial troubles, unscrupulous owners, salvation from supporters and now the Hollywood adventure with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, it has been a long and winding road back to today when they return to the EFL against MK Dons in north Wales.
Wrexham got their Hollywood ending last season with a 111-point record total to win the fifth division – and now the A-list owners want a repeat this season.
In the eyes of bookmakers they are the favourites – and a pre-season win over a youthful Manchester United side has done little to lessen the expectation on Phil Parkinson’s side.
With that in mind, Mail Sport takes a look at how Wrexham are shaping up ahead of their Football League return today.
TRANSFER WINDOW
A major part of Wrexham’s plan since Reynolds and McElhenney selected Parkinson as the man to lead their project has been to build a team they believe can compete levels above where they are playing.
Signings that thrived last season, such as Elliot Lee and Tom O’Connor, are expected to kick on and improve once more and so seeking a greater standard of player than what they have got already has made it a slow burn this summer for Wrexham.
Left-sided centre back Will Boyle arrived from Huddersfield Town of the Championship, while former Premier League wide-man James McClean has joined in a £250,000 deal.
Parkinson is still after a couple and revealed this week that bids have been made for a couple of players, one of which is likely to have been McClean.
Depth is one of Wrexham’s greatest strengths and these additions, both dropping down from a far higher level, only further elevates a group that was already expected to win back-to-back promotions.
HOW DID PRE-SEASON GO?
The tour of the United States was an unforgettable experience for the playing squad and was also reward for the new wave of fans that have become besotted with the club since season one of the Disney+ Welcome to Wrexham documentary dropped.
Many that Mail Sport spoke to had driven huge distances – one fan said how he and his family drove for 13 hours to attend the opening pre-season game against Chelsea in North Carolina.
There was also some frustration from fans back home that there were no local friendlies that they could attend – but on the whole it was a trip that has brought the team even closer together.
Results wise Wrexham lost one, drew one and won two, beating LA Galaxy II and a young Man United side.
The biggest problem with this past pre-season – which saw Wrexham play in North Carolina, Los Angeles, San Diego and a stormy Philadelphia – was the injury to star striker Paul Mullin.
The Liverpudlian was essential to the side last season, finishing as top scorer in firing them to their first promotion since 2002-03.
He punctured his lung and broke four ribs following a nasty clash with Manchester United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop – who has since joined Sunderland – early in the San Diego clash.
