Wrexham play their first match within the second tier for greater than 40 years on Saturday, once they go to freshly relegated Southampton in a lunchtime Championship conflict.
The Hollywood-backed Crimson Dragons have been relegated from the previous Division Two in 1982 and would go on to spend 15 seasons in non-league earlier than the arrival of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who purchased the membership in 2020 and backed by a workforce of Disney+ cameras, oversaw a exceptional transformation each on and off the pitch.
The membership’s three consecutive promotions as much as the Championship is unprecedented and far of the pre-season hype this summer season has been about whether or not or not they’re able to finishing their rise to the highest desk and successful promotion to the Premier League.
David Prutton on Wrexham’s rise
Based on former Southampton and Leeds United midfielder David Prutton, who fronts Sky Sports activities’ EFL protection, the Welsh facet are in for an entire new problem this season.
“Wrexham’s ambition is admirable – it has been inspiring due to what they’ve achieved and what they nonetheless suppose they’re able to attaining,” he tells FourFourTwo.
“Now they’re up towards groups with aspirations to get into the Premier League. Phil Parkinson is aware of the Championship, he will probably be pragmatic and he’ll make them defensively strong.
“Below Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, in addition to CEO Shaun Harvey, they’ve been extraordinarily savvy, however I might say with the best respect that it’s fanciful to consider getting promoted once more this season.
“They’ll be a beautiful addition to the Championship, although.”
Following their opening weekend conflict towards Saints, Wrexham host West Brom after which crisis-hit Sheffield Wednesday, earlier than seeing August out with a visit to Millwall.
This summer season has seen Parkinson’s facet make a variety of eye-catching signings, together with a swoop for confirmed Championship goalscorer Kieffer Moore, who joined for a reported £2million from Sheffield United.
Midfielder Lewis O’Brien has joined from Nottingham Forest, whereas the membership have additionally added skilled defender Conor Coady from 2023/24 Championship winners Leicester Metropolis, plus attacking midfielder Josh Windass from Sheffield Wednesday.
