Wrexham

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Jobi McAnuff expects Wrexham to thrive in League One this season but feels a third straight promotion may be a tall order for Phil Parkinson’s team.

Wrexham begin their first season in the third tier in 19 years when they host Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

The north Wales club finished second in League Two last term having won the National League in 2022-23.

Despite their rapid rise, Wrexham will start the new campaign with high hopes thanks to the continued backing of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

But EFL pundit McAnuff has warned that the step up to League One is bigger than the change Wrexham faced when starting out in League Two last season.

“I think there may need to be a bit of time for them to consolidate at this level,” McAnuff said.

“You've got some big, big clubs with lofty ambitions in League One. Birmingham have come down, Bolton I expect to be up there, Charlton will be a lot better this season under Nathan Jones, Huddersfield - there's some really good teams in there.

“I wouldn't put it past them [to win promotion] just because they're Wrexham and everyone knows what their ambitions are. I just think it'd be a bit much for them to expect to get up straight away.”

McAnuff says Wrexham will have no issue establishing themselves in a new division because they have a number of players with experience of playing at the higher level.

He also feels that despite the arrival of some notable signings this summer, Reynolds and McElhenney could spend again in the mid-season transfer window.

“With Wrexham, we know if they are in with a sniff [of promotion] in January, then maybe that's the time they go, ‘right, who's going to be the player or two that can come and really get us over the line?’” he added.

“I wouldn’t write them off, not at all. I just think there's some other very, very good teams at that level this season.”

Excited about heading to the Stok Racecourse for the first game of the new season? Wales international Sam Vokes is.

The Wycombe Wanderers forward has been looking forward to kicking off the League One campaign at Wrexham on the Feast of Football podcast.

Wrexham are back in English football’s third tier after an absence of 19 years following back-to-back automatic promotions, while Wycombe go into a fourth League One campaign since their one Championship season in 2020-21.

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Defender Jordan Tunnicliffe has joined National League side Solihull Moors after settling his contract dispute with Wrexham.

Tunnicliffe, 30, had initially been released from the Racecourse at the end of last season.

However, reports claimed an administrative error meant Tunnicliffe had a further year to run on his deal with manager Phil Parkinson admitting there had been an issue to resolve.

But Moors have confirmed the centre-back has agreed a one-year deal with the non-league side following the end of his Dragons contract.

“It’s a local club to me, I’ve lived in the area the last few years and it’s a club that have got aspirations to get into the football league and I want to be a part of that,” said Tunnicliffe.

“I’ve got promoted from this league before and I want to try and do it again”

Tunnicliffe joined Wrexham in July 2022 following his release from Crawley Town.

He scored two goals in 41 appearances in all competitions in his two seasons at the Stok Racecourse, but was hampered by injuries.

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says his side must remain "humble" despite back-to-back promotions that have seen them rise from non-league to League One.

The 56-year-old has huge experience as a manager, having led clubs including Hull City, Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland.

And Parkinson warned that Wrexham's return to the third tier of the English football pyramid after a 19-year absence will see them pitted this season against clubs with an impressive pedigree.

Wrexham will play eight clubs in the league this season who are former Premier League sides - Barnsley, Birmingham City, Blackpool, Bolton, Charlton, Huddersfield Town and Reading.

"I've managed a lot of the so-called 'bigger teams' in this division over the years and there's an expectancy and a tension at those teams where the fans will expect (success)," Parkinson told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"Birmingham (relegated from the Championship last season) for instance, the supporters will be expecting comfortable victories each week and for them to be riding high.

"We've got to keep that humbleness, not only in the squad but in the supporters as well.

"We've come a long way, we want to achieve again, but we've got to make sure there's that real togetherness in the Racecourse with the supporters and players and that connection we've created in the last few years."

Wrexham begin the new season on Saturday at home to Wycombe Wanderers, with that game kicking off at 17:30 BST.

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says the club is ready for a "mouthwatering" return to third-tier football after 19 years away.

The Dragons begin their League One campaign at home to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday after a second successive promotion.

It will be Wrexham's first game at that level since 2005.

"There’s an air of excitement more than anything in the club because we are going into a division which we haven’t operated in, in 19 years," said Parkinson.

"Some of the games we've got coming up are mouthwatering, home and away.

"Everybody is really ready now to get started."

Aided by investment from Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Parkinson has been able to add five new players to his squad, the latest being defender Dan Scarr from Championship side Plymouth Argyle.

But Parkinson says the new arrivals make it likely players will be leaving the club on loan, with fans' favourite Jordan Davies among those who may be allowed to go.

"There’s a couple we’re talking with clubs about taking on," added Parkinson.

"We can only have 22 in the squad, everybody knows that, so as much as we’re bringing players in, we've got to have one eye on being fair to other players as well.

"There are a few clubs in for some of our players who we feel it would be the right decision for them to go."