Wrexham will relish 'underdog' role in League One

Wrexham were unbeaten on their three-match tour of the US and Canada

Wrexham will enjoy being underdogs in League One this season insists manager Phil Parkinson.

The Welsh club are back in English football’s third tier after an absence of 19 years following back-to-back automatic promotions.

But Parkinson says there is a “sense of realism” at the club, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, ahead of the new campaign.

“We’ve got more of an underdog feel because you're competing against your Birminghams and your Boltons and teams like that who have got huge spending power,” Parkinson said.

“We’ll enjoy playing that underdog card at times because it’s one we can use to our benefit.

“Yes, there is expectation on us, but the only expectation I’ve got on the players is that we maintain standards and we play in a way which reflects on how we’ve done over the last few years.

“I think also there’s a sense of realism as well, that the supporters know we are going into a tough division with a lot of big-spending clubs.”

Parkinson’s side begin the new season at home against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday evening.

The Dragons’ following two league games will be against two of Parkinson’s former clubs – Bolton Wanderers away on 18 August and home to Reading on 24 August.

“There’s lots of great games to look forward to this year and that’s the great thing for our supporters,” Parkinson added.

“Two years ago we were going down to Aldershot and the year before that to Dover and Kings Lynn, and now we are going to be running out at St Andrew's [Birmingham] and grounds like that, teams with massive support.

“There’s so many mouth-watering games to look forward to during the season.”

Saturday’s opening game against Wycombe at the Stok Racecourse - where Wrexham lost just three times last season - will be a sell-out.

Wrexham have had capacity crowds for home games in recent seasons thanks to their on-field success and the draw of the club's owners Reynolds and McElhenney.

"The supporters have got a huge part to play," Parkinson said.

"We've got to continue to make this place a very difficult place for the opposition to play and a fantastic place for our players to flourish and express themselves.

"Over the last three years that atmosphere in the stadium has been a key factor for us.

"We want to make this a place teams really dread coming to play and the atmosphere helps with that and the way we go about our performance."