Wrexham 2024-25 season preview: Don't expect fireworks from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side this season

We're now three-and-a-half years into the high-profile owners' tenure, but there are few signs of the feel-good factor around Wrexham fading. Winning helps, obviously, but the affection the supporters feel towards McElhenney and Reynolds runs deeper than that.

When they completed their takeover, the pair made a string of bold promises, vowing to: "grow the team and return it to the EFL in front of increased attendances, and in an improved stadium, while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham."

And they've been true to their word. Not only are the men's team going for a third-straight promotion, the women's side have also benefited from considerable investment, while the capacity of the SToK Racecourse will swell significantly once a resolution can be reached on the redevelopment of the Kop stand.

The football club's success has created ripples that have benefited the North Wales town as a whole too. The two A-listers have donated to various local charities, while the general buzz around Wrexham has even caused a spike in house prices.

So, yeah, the fans are pretty happy - even if the media attention the Red Dragons continue to receive has rubbed rival clubs up the wrong way on occasion.

Wrexham's summer started off by saying goodbye to several club stalwarts. Captain Luke Young, beloved long-throw specialist Ben Tozer and goal-scoring centre-back Aaron Hayden were among those released upon the expiration of their contracts. The trio had played significant roles in Wrexham's journey up through the leagues and their departures showed the club would not be ruled by sentimentality in the transfer market.

It did not take long for the reinforcements to arrive, though. The signing of George Dobson represented an early statement of intent. The ex-Charlton Athletic captain was a near ever-present for the Addicks over the past few seasons, with Wrexham batting away competition from Tom Brady-owned Birmingham City to secure his services.

Dan Scarr will provide a significant boost to the backline, too. He was a big part of the Plymouth Argyle side who won promotion from League One in 2023 and he went on to feature regularly in the second tier last campaign, before opting to depart Wayne Rooney's side for a new challenge in North Wales.

Scarr is not the only centre-back Wrexham have snapped up either. Twenty-three-year-old Lewis Brunt impressed on loan at Mansfield from Leicester City last season, with the Red Dragons beating their rivals to his permanent signing. Sebastian Revan has a similar story. After featuring for Rotherham last campaign, the versatile left-back was released by Aston Villa and has earned a permanent contract at Wrexham.

The most impressive new arrival of all, though, is Arthur Okonkwo. Following Ben Foster's shock retirement after just a few games last season, Wrexham found themselves in a bit of a bind. Fortunately, they were able to seal a quick deal to bring Okonkwo to the club on loan from Arsenal. It soon became clear that the goalkeeper was playing below his level, with the 22-year-old being voted into the League Two Team of the Season. There was reported Championship interest in him this summer, with Wrexham's successful pursuit representing a serious statement of intent.

Parkinson isn't done there either. "We are working on a couple of other things to add a bit more quality to what we have already got to make sure we can compete at this level," he said recently.

Another striker would be welcomed, with Millwall's Tom Bradshaw among those linked, while Wrexham also look a little light in attacking midfield should anything happen to the talismanic Elliot Lee.

Wrexham kicked off their pre-season with a 5-1 victory over Hanley Town. They had pencilled in a behind-closed-doors clash with Liverpool, but the non-league side stepped in at short notice after the Reds pulled out.

After that, their pre-season got a lot more glamorous, especially compared to their League One contemporaries, with Reynolds and McElhenney once again treating the squad to a trip to North America. This time, the women's side joined them too, and following a glitzy welcome party, the real business kicked-off.

Things began with a highly credible 1-1 draw against Premier League Bournemouth in California. They then faced off against Enzo Maresca's Chelsea and once again held their top-flight opposition, with Jack Marriott and Luke Bolton getting the goals.

Things got even better when Wrexham crossed the border to take on MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps. Revan, Lee, James McClean and Jordan Davies were the scorers in a comprehensive 4-1 win, with Reynolds and McElhenney even being reunited in the stands to watch the goal fest.

Wrexham were sent crashing back down to earth for their final friendly, as they welcomed Fleetwood Town to SToK Cae Ras, but they still picked up a 1-0 win. Overall, Parkinson will be encouraged with what he's seen from his team ahead of the new season. Not only did the club further build their brand in North America, they also look well organised and clinical in each of their warm-up games.

Since taking over at Wrexham, Parkinson has remained fervently committed to his 3-5-2 formation. And, judging by the transfer business completed thus far, it seems unlikely that this will be changing over the coming months.

Once he's fit again, Mullin will be tasked with the bulk of the goal-scoring, with one of Sam Dalby, Ollie Palmer, Steven Fletcher or Jack Marriott playing the role of facilitator. Lee will be the most advanced of the midfield three, with Dobson likely to be fielded behind him alongside one of George Evans, Andy Cannon or Jamie Jones.

Parkinson also loves attacking wing-backs. Revan adds to his strength in that area, with James McClean, Jacob Mendy, Luke Bolton and Ryan Barnett all capable of fulfilling these roles, too. His options for the back three have been bolstered by the arrivals of Scarr and Brunt, but Max Cleworth, Will Boyle, Thomas O'Connor and Eoghan O'Connell will all be confident of staking their claim for the first-team spot.

In terms of style, Parkinson has been derided for an overly-direct approach during his career. And while his side is not shy about hitting the channels, they are capable of mixing it up by keeping hold of the ball and probing their opposition more patiently. It's probably most accurate to paint Parkinson as a pragmatist, with his side capable of causing problems going forward in several different ways.

With his countless goals, Deadpool cameo and larger-than-life personality, one might think that Mullin is Wrexham's most-important player. But while the 29-year-old's adaption to this higher level will have a big influence in his side's fortunes this season, there is one man who might just be even more vital.

Just like last campaign, Mullin is poised to miss Wrexham's first few games this year through injury. When he was sidelined with a punctured lung last season, Lee stepped up to the mantle, netting five times in as many appearances. This stunning run set the tone for his best campaign in a Wrexham shirt to date, with the ex-Luton Town man not missing a single League Two game.

It's not just goal-scoring he brings to the table, either. Lee is the glue that holds Parkinson's charges together going forward, constantly testing the opposition defence with through balls and combining with the wing-backs on both sides. He never stops running either, helping ensure Wrexham are difficult to play through.

And while Mullin has a string of understudies ready to fill in, there is no like-for-like replacement for Lee in the Wrexham squad. Keeping him fit is pivotal if the Red Dragons are going to achieve their goals.

In comparison to their rivals over the past two seasons, Wrexham have been big-spenders, using their financial muscle to build the best squad at whatever level they were competing at. However, Reynolds and McElhenney have also spoken about building the best academy in Wales.

Cleworth's continued emergence last season provides proof that this objective is worth pursuing. Born in nearby Chester, the young centre-back featured semi-regularly during Wrexham's National League days, though there were doubts over whether he'd be able to step up to EFL football.

He answered those questions decisively during the 2023-24 campaign, finishing the season as one of the first names on the team sheet. A classy operator, he has been tipped for big things, with former team-mate Tozer saying recently: "Max has got Premier League written all over him. It’s just whether he wants to go now and not play, or does he stay with Wrexham and go all the way up to the Premier League, possibly captain the club and go that route? I don’t know what I’d do if I was him."

The upcoming season will be Cleworth's biggest test yet, but if he can continue to develop, it wouldn't be surprising if Wrexham had to deal with transfer interest from second-tier clubs in January.

It might be tempting to tip Wrexham for a third-straight automatic promotion, considering the incredible momentum they've been able to build up over the past few seasons. Overall, though, there seems to be an acceptance that this is likely a bridge too far.

Last season, despite being a newly-promoted club, Wrexham were still among the heavy-hitters financially in League Two. But in the third tier, they will find a string of clubs who are able to compete with them. Birmingham have spent around £12 million ($15m) on new players this summer, including last season's top scorer Alfie May, making them runaway favourites for the title.

Then there's ex-Premier League clubs like Bolton, Huddersfield, Charlton, Blackpool and Barnsley, as well as promotion specialists Rotherham, who will all fancy themselves for the other automatic promotion spot. League Two champions Stockport have recruited superbly, too.

All this competition means Wrexham are going to need to have a near-perfect season to claim one of the two automatic places. Even the play-offs seem like a stretch, unless one or two more headline-grabbing additions can be made before the start of the season.

Top 10 is probably a realistic ambition. A season of consolidation may not make for a good documentary series, but it's exactly what the club's needs. Wrexham's fast-track route up the pyramid has been well managed off the field so far, but reaching the Championship is a different kettle of fish altogether. Twelve months of steady on-field months progress will provide the breathing room to ensure the infrastructure is in place to not only make it into the second tier, but stay there too.

Player of the Season: Arthur Okonkwo. Wrexham are going to be conceding shots at a higher rate than last season, meaning Okonkwo will have even more chances to showcase his undeniable brilliance.

Biggest disappointment: Steven Fletcher. It was a surprise to see the former Scotland international handed another deal this summer. At 37, age appears to be catching up with him, though he should still be a good presence in the dressing room.

Best signing: George Dobson. The experienced midfielder is a ready-made League One difference-maker and he'll be desperate to prove his Wrexham move was the right decision this season.

Top scorer: Paul Mullin. Who else?!

League position: 9th