'A relentless league' - Phil Parkinson issues warning to Wrexham players ahead of Championship return with Red Dragons only team in division not to play in top flight

Under the stewardship of celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham have made an extraordinary climb. In just three seasons, they’ve surged up three divisions of the English football pyramid. Now, they stand just one promotion away from reaching the pinnacle, the Premier League.

Despite some suggesting that Wrexham might benefit from stabilising at this level for a season, Reynolds and McElhenney continue to invest and aspire for more, believing in the club’s potential to make history. One of the first building blocks for this next chapter came earlier this month with the acquisition of striker Ryan Hardie.

According to Parkinson, bolstering the squad with players who can match the physical intensity of the Championship is essential.

"We're going into one of the most competitive leagues in world football," Parkinson told ESPN. "Not just European football, in world football. It's a relentless league. We're the only team in the league that's never played in the top flight in its history, so we're against some great clubs. As you go up the divisions in England, the technical ability improves, but the athleticism and the power are things where you can significantly see the difference".

Parkinson pointed out the need for reinforcements, alluding to the brutal scheduling that defines the Championship, midweek matches crammed between weekend games, often with little rest.

"Having the ability to freshen the team up as well. Because with the International breaks in the Championship, you've got a lot of midweek games," he said.

"You're going into a tough game on Saturday, then you go on to Tuesday, with very little difference between the teams in the division. You're not playing an Ipswich and then the next week a lesser team, where there's going to be a great deal of difference in the standard of the game. Making sure the energy levels are there in the team, but having the ability within the squad to make four or five changes to keep the freshness in the team."

Parkinson also acknowledged the team's growth over recent years. From a side that initially relied on spirit and momentum, Wrexham have developed into a unit that can compete technically and tactically.

"If you look at the story of the team, the people who watch the games, we have evolved as a team," he said.

"As you go up the divisions, the playing field gets levelled and you come up against squads that at times, even last year [in League One], had more talent than us. So we have to find a way how we're going to adapt. And that's going to be more prevalent in the Championship."

Before the new season kicks off, Wrexham will embark on a preseason tour across Australia and New Zealand. The Red Dragons will face A-League and A-League-affiliated clubs, including Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC, and Wellington Phoenix, a tour designed to boost fitness, team cohesion, and global brand recognition. Whereas their return to the Championship becomes official on August 9, when they line up at St. Mary’s Stadium to take on Southampton.