Football Season Guide

Wrexham just missed out on the chance to create more history with a fourth successive promotion when they dropped out of the play-off places on the final day of last season. The Premier League looks like an inevitability for the Hollywood-owned Welsh side. It’s just a question of how quickly they can get there. Despite taking the Red Dragons all the way up from the National League, head coach Phil Parkinson still has sceptics to this day over his ability to take the club to the next level. Many believed he wouldn’t last long in the Championship, but “Parky” proved the doubters wrong and will have another chance to make it into the top flight. Of course, Parkinson has been aided by the extensive financial investment from actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The owners spent an unprecedented amount for a newly-promoted club last summer. The likes of Josh Windass, Callum Doyle, Dom Hyam, Ben Sheaf, Lewis O’Brien and Kieffer Moore all became mainstays in the team. Parkinson also kept faith in players who had helped the club get promoted in the first place. Arthur Owkonko, Max Cleworth, Matty James, George Dobson, Oli Rathbone and Sam Smith all managed to make the step up to Championship level and remain key contributors. The summer transfer market has been surprisingly quiet so far for the Red Dragons. Danny Imray became one of the best attacking right-backs in the Championship towards the end of his loan spell at West Brom last season and could be the ideal replacement for Issa Kaboré who has gone back to parent-club Manchester City. The club were also able to prise away Preston captain Ben Whiteman to add to their dearth of midfield options. Those are the only two new faces so far, but there is still a long way to go before the window shuts.