Wrexham 2023-24 fixtures: MK Dons curtain raiser, Paul Mullin's return to Morecambe & nine unmissable matches as the Red Dragons' prepare for League Two return

Wrexham will open their campaign with a difficult clash against MK Dons, who suffered relegation from League One in 2022-23. It will be a historic occasion for the hosts as they take to the pitch in the Football League for the first time in 15 years, with Reynolds and McElhenney likely to be in attendance.

The Hollywood duo have been regular visitors to north Wales since purchasing the club, and Parkinson has said of their potential return to the SToK Racecourse: "It wouldn’t surprise me if they come over because it is – in the history of the football club - a huge game. To be out of the league for 15 years, this signals the return of the club into league football. I’m sure if they can possibly be here, they will be over.”

Wrexham have a dismal record in League Two against MK Dons, having won just one of their previous six meetings in the division, but they will go into their latest clash as slight favourites with squad morale still sky-high after their National League triumph.

Wrexham supporters would have been looking out for this fixture straight away, as they are set to welcome the Class of '92-owned Salford City to the SToK Racecourse. Manchester United legends Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt pooled together to buy Salford in 2014, and the club subsequently enjoyed their own impressive rise up to the pyramid.

They've been stuck in League Two for three seasons now, though, which should serve as a cautionary tale for Wrexham, with their latest setback coming in the form of a play-off semi-final defeat to Stockport County.

Gary Neville and Co. won't want to be beaten to promotion by Wrexham, but the former United defender has admitted that he is a great admirer of how Reynolds and McElhenney have gone about their business in Wales. “They turn up there," he said on The Overlap. "They’ve done it well at Wrexham and they’ve got obviously a long way to go to get to probably where they want to be, Championship, Premier League, and probably that might take three years, eight years, 12 years, who knows."

Seven days after their encounter against Salford, Wrexham will face arguably their biggest test of the season against the biggest club in the division: Bradford City. Former Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City boss Mark Hughes guided the Bantams to the play-offs last term, and they will be gunning for promotion once again.

It will be an emotional return to Valley Parade for Parkinson, who is still a hero to Bradford fans after serving in their dugout between 2011 and 2016. The Englishman led the club to promotion to League One and the 2013 League Cup final before masterminding a huge FA Cup fourth-round win against Chelsea two years later.

Wrexham met Bradford on four occasions during their last stint in League Two, winning once, losing once and drawing twice. Fireworks will be expected in West Yorkshire and the final result could go a long way to deciding who ends up finishing higher in the table.

The first Welsh derby of the season will take place two days before Christmas, and Graham Coughlan's Newport side will likely be underdogs under the bright lights of the SToK Racecourse. It will be the teams' first meeting since a second-round FA Cup replay in 2018, which Newport won 4-0 at Rodney Parade.

Newport finished 15th in League Two last season, though, and Wrexham will be expected to pick up all three points in front of a rocking home crowd. The only man who might be able to spoil the party is Omar Bogle, who made a big impact after moving from Hartlepool to Newport last summer.

The 29-year-old has bags of Football League experience under his belt, having played for 12 different English clubs over the course of his career, and his 17-goal return for the Exiles in 2023-23 was more than respectable. Wrexham will need to keep him quiet in order to earn bragging rights.

Notts County pushed Wrexham all the way in the National League title race last season, ultimately finishing just four points behind their rivals in second. The destination of the trophy was very much up in the air before they clashed in Wales on April 10, with a thrilling contest edged 3-2 by Wrexham.

Elliot Lee scored what turned out to be a 78th-minute winner for the Red Dragons, but only after a stunning save from goalkeeper Ben Foster to deny Cedwyn Scott's last-gasp penalty. It was also a welcome slice of revenge for Wrexham, who had lost the reverse fixture 1-0 at Meadow Lane.

Notts County recovered to win promotion via the play-offs in dramatic fashion, and will fancy their chances of competing with Wrexham for silverware once again. The renewal of the rivalry will no doubt be welcomed by Reynolds, who blasted the "insane" National League promotion format after seeing Wrexham edge the title decider.

“The fact that this much attention has come upon the National League in this way is incredibly special and immensely worthy of the talents of not only Wrexham, but Notts County as well," he added.

The driving force behind Wrexham's successful promotion bid was undoubtedly Paul Mullin, who was ever-present in Parkinson's line-up. The striker banged in 38 goals, including a stunning solo effort against Boreham Wood that won Goal of the Season, and he is now being tipped for a call-up to the Welsh national team.

Mullin is enjoying a new level of fame thanks to his exploits in a team backed by Hollywood A-listers, but he initially earned his stripes in League Two while on the books at Morecambe between 2014 and 2017. He scored 28 goals in 140 appearances for the club, endearing himself to supporters with his hard-working style and passion.

The Mazuma Stadium will surely give Mullin a warm reception on his return, but their relationship could change by the final whistle. The 28-year-old has developed into a prolific centre-forward at Wrexham, and he has hit 57 League Two goals in his career already, having also played in the division for Cambridge United.

Morecambe dropped back down to the fourth tier after finishing 22nd in League One last term, and will have a real job on their hands to keep Mullin and Co. at bay, even in front of their own supporters.

Wrexham's chances of winning automatic promotion or sealing a place in the play-offs could well hinge on how they perform over the Easter weekend. It is a historically crucial period in the Football League season, and Parkinson's side won't be able to afford any slip-ups.

Mansfield, who finished eighth in League Two last term, will arrive at the SToK Racecourse on Good Friday, and Wrexham will then have just three days to recover before facing Doncaster Rovers at the Eco-Power Stadium on Easter Monday.

The Red Dragons were on the wrong end of the result the last time they met both Mansfield and Doncaster, losing 2-1 against the former in a League Two clash in 2008, and 1-0 in a League Cup tie against the latter three years earlier. But anything less than maximum points will be considered a disappointment for Wrexham next year, especially if the top of the League Two table is as tight as it was last season.

The fixture list has thrown up a blockbuster final-day encounter for Wrexham, as they will play host to last season's beaten play-off finalists Stockport County. The Hatters were agonisingly beaten on penalties by Carlisle at Wembley, but it was still a great achievement for them to reach that stage.

Stockport won promotion from the National League the previous year, and more than held their own in their first season back in League Two. Wrexham will hope to follow their example, but Stockport are many neutral's favourites to go on and win the title in 2023-24.

Stockport cannot match Wrexham's financial muscle, though, and much could depend on how well any new signings gel into Parkinson's system at the SToK Racecourse. Cheltenham frontman Alfie May is among those being linked with the Red Dragons, and the prospect of him lining up alongside Mullin in the final third is frightening.

The stage is already set for this game to be the most pivotal of the season, and if all the pieces fall into place over the course of the year, Wrexham supporters could expect another barnstormer in the same mould as their now legendary battle against Notts County.