Phil Parkinson claims Birmingham 'outbidded' Wrexham on several summer transfer targets & insists Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney 'can't compete' with Tom Brady & Co after suffering first League One loss

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made more funds available for recruitment over the summer, with another busy window being enjoyed at SToK Racecourse. Wrexham are happy with their business and have shown that they can hold their own in League One after enjoying back-to-back promotions.

They have, however, been blown out of the water when it comes to spending by third tier rivals Birmingham – with their record £15 million ($20m) signing, Jay Stansfield, bagging a brace for the Blues in their 3-1 ‘Hollywood derby’ win over Wrexham at St Andrew’s.

Parkinson has told reporters of trying to operate on a level playing field with clubs that boast similar ambition to Wrexham: “Every player we were going for, they were outbidding us or offering more wages; it was almost 'let them sign who they want and everyone else will look for what else is out there'. No-one can compete in this division in terms of their spending and it would have been madness for us. If I was in their position, you’d get the best possible players you can and that’s what they’ve done. But as much as we haven’t got carried away with our start, you can’t get too carried away with Birmingham. With the options they’ve got, they will take some beating. It was a good performance by them, but there is a lot of football to be played.”

Parkinson added on seeing his side surrender an early lead in the West Midlands against a team that is expected to run away with the League One title: “Any defeat is tough to take, but we have to be realistic in terms of where we’ve come from. At the start of the season after six games – and the first three away games at Bolton, Peterborough and Birmingham – and to have only been beaten once we would have taken it. They have spent more money than any team outside of the Premier League, and have good quality players, but there are areas to improve. It’s about responding and if we come up against that situation again, when we’re under pressure, can we do better?”

Wrexham will be looking to deliver a positive response to their setback at St Andrew's – which was played out in front of McElhenney, Birmingham investor Tom Brady and Manchester United legend David Beckham – when welcoming Crawley to North Wales on Saturday.