Was season a missed opportunity for Wrexham?

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• Published6 hours ago

In the end, it wasn't to be for Wrexham.

And perhaps a quartet of consecutive promotions was asking too much for even a club touched by Hollywood.

It is four years since the last time the final game of the season wasn't one of jubilant scenes.

Those in red immediately fell to the turf after referee Oliver Langford blew his whistle to bring the contest with Middlesbrough to an end.

Amid the disappointment, there would still have been plenty to smile about for supporters making their way out of Stok Cae Ras.

After all, this was still the north Wales club's highest-ever league finish in their history.

Co-chairman Ryan Reynolds' summary was apt.

"I am completely gutted by today's result but incredibly proud of our season," he wrote on social media.

"We've come a long way in five years and this was the best result in our 150+ year history. More to do. But for now, we have so much to be proud of. Reds."

Director Shaun Harvey had already reminded all that the season would be viewed as a success, saying the campaign was one of "nearly" making it rather than "we just missed out".

Swiftly after the match, manager Phil Parkinson said he expects the club to be stronger next season - with Wrexham likely to be serious contenders for promotion.

But, to do that, they will analyse how, why and where they fell short this term.

Just as fans may wonder whether their club might have missed an opportunity to rewrite the record books all over again.

• Wrexham to return stronger next season - Parkinson

  • Published19 hours ago

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January window

One question will be whether Wrexham got their January window right.

After a big summer spend, the core aim of the winter transfer business was to streamline the squad, with a significant number of loan departures.

Such was the size of the squad, incomings were not vital.

But past seasons saw Wrexham use January as a time to really signal their intent. Like the capture of Sam Smith in January 2025 or Ollie Palmer three years earlier, a sprinkling of stardust in the winter window is not to be sniffed at. Players have spoken of how a January freshness gave the dressing room a timely lift for the final push.

It didn't happen this time, though not for a want of trying. They looked at the likes of Adam Armstrong, Sidiki Cherif and Terry Devlin but moves did not materialise.

And the impact of those who they did bring in halfway through the season was incredibly limited.

According to WhoScored.com, Davis Keillor-Dunn played just 81 league minutes following his switch from Barnsley while Sheffield Wednesday-signing Bailey Cadamarteri was given only 27 minutes.

Defender Zak Vyner joined from Bristol City with a toe injury and was then thrust into action in central midfield. He missed the final five games of the season with a groin injury.

Which leads us on to another key issue.

Injury concerns

The midfield injury crisis hit hard.

Matty James' toe injury kept him sidelined for two months and his central midfield partner Ben Sheaf was absent for even longer. Options were further limited as George Dobson was banned for three games.

But there have been several other concerns.

From the outset of the campaign, Ollie Rathbone, Jay Rodriguez and Andy Cannon were all recovering from long-term injuries.

Wing-backs were key in previous promotion campaigns. This time, Liberato Cacace and Issa Kabore, both first choice in the role, had significant issues this season, particularly the former who started just eight Championship matches in his debut campaign in north Wales. It has led to midfielder George Thomason - in his first ever Championship season - operating for long spells as makeshift cover.

Kieffer Moore enjoyed a stunning first half of the season, scoring 12 goals across all competitions up to and including the 5-3 victory over his former club Sheffield United on 26 December. But he netted just once in his subsequent 19 appearances having sustained two separate hamstring issues.

And goalkeeper Danny Ward endured a prolonged spell on the sidelines after sustaining an elbow injury in just his fourth appearance of the campaign.

Injuries affect all teams but perhaps Parkinson felt it more this year than ever.

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The games that got away

Of course, for all the despondency of the final day, there have been plenty of afternoons and evenings to stand out in new surroundings.

Aside from FA Cup exploits - including beating Premier League Nottingham Forest and pushing Chelsea to extra time - the Championship campaign saw genuinely memorable home wins over eventual champions Coventry City and promoted Ipswich Town.

There were crackers home and away against Sheffield United, plus key away wins at Norwich City, Millwall and Queens Park Rangers.

But there are some clear moments where points slipped away.

Wrexham were substandard in both matches against Hull City - who pipped them to sixth on the final day - while they collected just one point from the three matches immediately after the March international break.

They dropped points at home to a Sheffield Wednesday side that won just two of their 46 league games.

It always felt like Millwall and Norwich at home were missed opportunities, while the ruthless nature of the division was evident from as early as the opening day at Southampton.

And it will be hard for fans not to think what could have been, were it not for conceding in the 90th minute to draw at home against relegated Leicester City.

Big guns to enter the mix

The challenges aren't about to get any easier.

And a quick glance at who could be coming down to compete next year is a big reminder.

For all their issues this year, Wolverhampton Wanderers feel like they've been readying themselves for a top-flight return since appointing Rob Edwards back in November.

Burnley - who have been linked with Wales manager Craig Bellamy - have the basis to repeat their yo-yo tricks of recent years.

Then there's the potential of a genuine giant - with Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest firmly in the frame to be relegated.

And, as if they needed it, all with the added parachute payments to add to their advantage.

There was a tacit awareness at the club last summer that there was a low number of clubs in receipt this season, with one of those - Leicester City - not as active in their spending.

While it wasn't a cue to gamble unreservedly, it did embolden ambitions to at least try and keep momentum.

Three transfer windows has long been the club's guideline to rebuild the squad, so it might suggest more spending is to come.

And having looked at top-half Championship players to get to this point, falling short may mean having to look a little higher - and paying a little more.

Play-off shake-up

What should be remembered is that - if this was next year - seventh in the table would be good enough for the play-offs.

The shake-up to the end-of-season shoot-out for promotion has been expanded from four sides to six.

That does mean more clubs will be in contention, more clubs perhaps willing to risk for rewards.

Whether the Red Dragons end up regretting this 'nearly, but not quite' attempt remains to be seen.

But given many had Parkinson's side tipped to struggle or to see the wheels come off in north Wales this season, Wrexham certainly showed they are to be taken seriously at a level they had not played for 43 years.

Given how close they came, the long-claimed notion from rival fans that the current ownership will 'get bored' looks even less like reality.

Instead, last year's new financial backing, new stadium improvements and three more years of a documentary that has given them global commercial power, suggests Wrexham might have a chance to atone any shortcomings from this season.

So while, in the end, a fourth consecutive promotion was a jump too far, you wouldn't bet against them to keep taking steps in the right direction towards their Premier League goal.

Related topics

• Welsh Football
• Wales Sport
• Wrexham
• Championship
• Football

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