Wrexham AFC has been driven back into the Football League by Phil Parkinson. Football League World examines the current status of his first five acquisitions.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Shaun Brisley struggled at Wrexham AFC, only playing five times for the club before leaving. He now plays for Alfreton Town.
- Liam McAlinden is still at Wrexham AFC for the 2023/24 season as the club returns to the Football League.
- Jake Hyde, who played for Wrexham in their title-winning season, now plays for Yeovil Town after leaving the Welsh club.
Wrexham AFC has been promoted to the Football League following the club’s hiring of Phil Parkinson in July 2021.
The squad has gone a long way since Parkinson’s first summer transfer window, when he readied the club to compete for the National League with the backing of new owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
With that in mind, consider Parkinson’s first FIVE acquisitions in North Wales and their current status:
Shaun Brisley
Shaun Brisley, who arrived from League Two club Port Vale, was Parkinson’s first signing.
Brisley would struggle at the Racecourse because he would only play five games for the team and would leave by mutual consent at the end of the season.
Buxton would sign Brisley in July 2022, and he would be an important component of the squad as the club finished mid-table that season.
Brisley has subsequently left Buxton for division opponent Alfreton Town, where he is still employed.
Liam McAlinden
Liam McAlinden, like Brisley, will move down a tier to join Wrexham from Morecambe on July 9.
The Irish youth international would play 23 games in his debut season under Parkinson, but his participation in the club’s title-winning season would be drastically limited.
McAlinden is still at the club for the 2023/24 season, when the team returns to the Football League following a 16-year absence.
Jake Hyde
Wrexham would sign Jake Hyde from Halifax Town in the National League. In his first season with the Red Dragons, Hyde would appear in 15 games.
Hyde, on the other hand, would be loaned out to Southend United for the 2022/23 season. Wrexham would win the title and gain promotion to the Football League, but Hyde and Southend would miss out in the play-offs.
Hyde is presently playing for Yeovil Town in the National League South after leaving the Welsh club in the summer of 2023.
Harry Lennon
Parkinson brought in another League Two player, Harry Lennon, after convincing the Englishman to leave Southend.
Lennon would make 19 appearances for the Red Dragons in the 2021/22 season, but the next season would be terrible for the centre-back, despite remaining at the club for their successful season.
Lennon would be forced to retire from the sport in May 2023, at the age of 28 due to a knee injury.
Paul Mullin
Paul Mullin was perhaps the club’s most high-profile addition during Parkinson’s first transfer window.
Mullin decided to quit Cambridge United despite the fact that the team had secured promotion to League One for the 2020/21 season, with the Liverpool-born striker finishing as the league’s top scorer.
Wrexham thought Mullin could have a huge impact on their promotion bid in Parkinson’s first season, and their optimism was validated when he became National League top goal scorer and Player of the Year; unfortunately, this would not be enough to drive the club into the Football League.
The 2022/23 season would be different, thanks to his 38 goals, which helped propel the Welsh team back into the Football League.
Mullin is still working for the club as they prepare for their League Two season in 2023/24.
| Player | Where is he now? |
|---|---|
| Shaun Brisley | Alfreton Town |
| Liam McAlinden | Wrexham AFC |
| Jake Hyde | Yeovil Town |
| Harry Lennon | Retired |
| Paul Mullin | Wrexham AFC |
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