'Appreciate what we've done' - Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson ready for Championship return and backs Red Dragons to compete after three consecutive promotions

The Welsh side’s rise has been meteoric. Three straight promotions have lifted Wrexham from the fifth tier to Saturday’s season opener away at Southampton, a club with recent Premier League pedigree and top-flight experience. Parkinson is no stranger to the Championship himself, having previously managed Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic, and Hull City. That familiarity, however, does not diminish the challenge.

While many are daring to dream of a fourth consecutive promotion to realise their Premier League dream, Parkinson is cautious. He recognises that sustaining momentum after such rapid progress will be difficult and warns that the squad may encounter its limits in the Championship.

"I think it's a great league," Parkinson said. "Every game feels like a real big match atmosphere. Understand the division, you can get on a good run, but you can very quickly be on a bad run and it can change quickly. Over the years the division is so tight, right to the end of the season. Last season so many teams were in contention for the play-offs. 

"It is very tight. If we get beat in games, which inevitably will happen, let's make sure we don't overreact as a staff, regroup and work towards the next one. That's the mindset we had last year, we had setbacks along the way, people doubting us. People think with three promotions we've had praise all the time and plaudits, but we've had periods where people start questioning me as a manager, questioning the players. You come through these periods and there's always a bigger picture to look at."

The Championship’s reputation for unpredictability is well earned. Last season alone, 15 managers either lost their jobs or departed by mutual consent, underlining its unforgiving nature. Parkinson acknowledges that such instability is part and parcel of the competition.

"That's just the nature of the division and football in general," Parkinson said. "As a manager, you've got to accept that and concentrate on doing your best every single day."

Wrexham’s return to the Championship could hardly begin with a tougher challenge. An away trip to St Mary’s Stadium against a Southampton side eager to bounce back to the Premier League will push Parkinson’s men from the outset. However, for Parkinson, the scale of Wrexham’s transformation hits home when he reflects on his early days at the club. 

"It's amazing that we'll be running out at Southampton in front of a packed house, against a team that has spent a lot of time in the Premier League over the last few years," Parkinson said.

"When I look at my first game here, Solihull away in front of a couple of thousand people, and four years later we're running out at Southampton. Sometimes you do have to step back and appreciate what we've done."

The club’s journey from non-league obscurity to Championship football has been extraordinary. Now, the real test begins.