Wrexham let eight go! The players released & those offered new contracts as Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney & Phil Parkinson start to plan for life in League One

The Red Dragons continue to enjoy a meteoric rise under the stewardship of Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, with back-to-back promotions carrying them into League One.

The ambitious Welsh outfit find themselves in the third tier of English football for the first time in 20 years, with impressive progress being made on and off the field.

Bigger challenges lie ahead, though, with manager Phil Parkinson in the process of piecing together recruitment plans for the summer transfer window – as Reynolds and McElhenney make more funds available.

Squad reshaping was always going to see some promotion-winning heroes moved on, and Wrexham have revealed who will be staying at SToK Racecourse for next season and which players are being freed to take on a new adventure elsewhere.

GOAL runs through the full retained list here as eight senior stars are released, three are given the chance to extend their association with the club and another sees an automatic extension triggered.

The commanding centre-half joined Wrexham in the same year as Reynolds and McElhenney and moves on after seeing injury problems hinder his progress across the last two campaigns.

Fell narrowly short of reaching 150 appearances for the Red Dragons, with the experienced goalkeeper another of those to have been held back by injuries.

A versatile operator that signed for the Red Dragons in January 2022 and helped them to bring a 15-year exile from the Football League ranks to a close.

A popular figure in North Wales, the no-nonsense defender stepped down from League One to join Wrexham in 2021 and filled the captain’s armband on a number of occasions.

Saw plenty of game time during Wrexham’s run to the National League title in 2022-23, but struggled for regular football in League Two.

Was appointed as club captain ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, and has over 250 appearances for the Red Dragons to his name, but slipped down the pecking order last season.

Academy graduate that always faced fierce competition for places in midfield and was allowed to join Colwyn Bay on loan in the January transfer window.

Another that was allowed to link up with Colwyn Bay during the 2023-24 campaign, with the youngster now looking for a fresh start elsewhere.

The veteran former Scotland international accepted a surprise call from Reynolds and McElhenney in 2023 and rewarded that show of faith with eight goals – including a hat-trick against Barrow. He has been offered a new deal.

The 37-year-old remains a back-up goalkeeping option for Wrexham, but he is a reliable operator when called upon and is being given the chance to agree a new contract.

Wrexham are eager to get more home-grown talent into their ranks, and teenage defender James is being presented with fresh terms after making his Football League debut in October 2023.

The vastly-experienced Irishman was a marquee addition for the Red Dragons in 2023, and the enigmatic winger has seen a one-year contract extension option triggered.