PHIL PARKINSON is relishing managing in the Football League once again and says winning promotion with Wrexham “still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up now”.
The 55-year-old, who celebrated his two-year anniversary as Reds’ boss last Saturday, had never managed in non-league until his arrival at The Racecourse.
Boasting nearly two decades’ experience as a manager, Parkinson was previously at the helm of six different clubs and won promotion on three occasions.
There was a fourth to celebrate as Wrexham enjoyed a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign, clinching the National League title and returning to the Football League following a 15-year absence.
It was a memorable season which meant so much to Parkinson who, like many of the players he has recruited since taking over the Wrexham hot seat, was used to plying his trade in the EFL.
“I was on the same journey as the lads who came out of the Football League when I came to Wrexham, and it was understanding the job in hand,” said the Reds’ boss, who won the National League manager of the year award.
“It is great to be back in the EFL and let’s be fair, it’s where Wrexham should be.
“There are lots of stories which contributed to those 15 years in the National League and it became a bit of a stigma.
“People were thinking ‘is it ever going to happen?’.
“Talking about promotion still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up now because I will never forget the feeling of that day when we got over the line, it was a very special day for us all.
“We will use that to drive us on again this season.”
Meanwhile, Wrexham have applied for a Category 4 licence under the Elite Player Performance Plan (‘EPPP’) with a view to the 2023-24 season being one of transition, with the intention to apply for Category 3 status from 2024/25.
A club statement read: “Wrexham boasts a proud history of developing and nurturing some of North Wales’ finest footballing talent – producing European champions, World Cup internationals and icons of the game – but have not had the resources to continue this during the majority of our 15-year absence from the Football League.
“An immediate priority following our return to League Two was to reform the Academy within the EPPP structure and we are now looking to recruit for roles within the Academy.”
