Phil Parkinson urges Wrexham to ‘enjoy’ promotion pressure as Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney target League Two glory

The Red Dragons surged back into the EFL last season when landing the National League title in record-breaking style. There has been no stopping their meteoric rise, with a top-three standing now taken up in League Two.

Wrexham have grown accustomed to having plenty to play for at the business end of any given campaign, and Parkinson – who has experienced both ends of the pressure spectrum as a manager – wants his players to embrace the expectation being lumped onto their shoulders.

Parkinson has told BBC Sport of a thrilling fight to the finish in 2023-24: “I think being there as a manager, coaching staff and a group of players is an advantage for us. We've got players who are used to this kind of pressure. Is it pressure? Pressure is when you are down the bottom of the table and I've been there before. I always remember my first year at Bradford City where I took over with a very poor squad down the bottom of League Two. The owners were saying 'if this club falls through the trap door the club might not exist.' That was pressure for myself and the players, fighting for livelihoods. This is one you've got to enjoy and I feel we've done well to be up where we are. Now it's about capitalising on the position we are in with nine games to go.”

Wrexham missed the chance to go joint-top of League Two when being held to a goalless draw by Harrogate, but they are just two points adrift of leaders Mansfield heading into a home date with Tranmere on Saturday.