Wrexham

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Wrexham have announced the departure of Amber Lightfoot, Rebecca Pritchard and Katie Sharp.

Winger Lightfoot came through the Wrexham academy and made a huge impact on the senior side, scoring 37 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions in her first two seasons.

Pritchard, who featured on the wing and at full-back, scored Wrexham's play-off final winning goal back in 2023 to seal the club's promotion to the Adran Premier.

Centre-back Sharp leaves as the club's longest-serving player, having made her debut back in 2019.

All three were among the first 10 Wrexham players to be given semi-professional contracts for the 2023/24 season.

"We'd like to place on record our appreciation for the trio's contributions whilst at the club," said a Wrexham Women post on social media.

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George Dobson feels Wrexham have been fully exposed to the ruthless nature of the Championship having suffered back-to-back defeats in the division at the start of the 2025-26 season.

Phil Parkinson's side were beaten 3-2 by West Bromwich Albion at the Stok Cae Ras to ensure they remain without a point having fallen to a 2-1 loss to Southampton a week earlier.

And after Parkinson criticised the "soft" goals his side conceded against the Baggies, Dobson admitted Wrexham are being emphatically punished for small mistakes in the second tier.

"It just showed the quality of the level - if you don't take your chances, you do get punished," said the midfielder.

"It's definitely not a panic stations type situation but we know there's a couple of things we need to be a bit better at.

"It's definitely the fine margins of being punished. Any sort of mistake or not doing your job quite right seems to get punished."

As they were at Southampton in the season opener, Wrexham were competitive for the majority of the contest with Ryan Mason's side.

And while they lost for the second league fixture running, Dobson feels Wrexham can pick up positive results if they improve defensively given their attacking talents.

"I'm not sure how many shots we had but I feel like we looked like scoring," added Dobson.

"We've just got to get the solid base back of getting clean sheets and not conceding too many chances and I'm sure the results will turn because the character of the group is so strong.

"It's a great learning curve for us."

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Manager Phil Parkinson says the arrival of three Wales internationals at the Stok Cae Ras shows the progress Wrexham have made in recent seasons.

Goalkeeper Danny Ward and forwards Kieffer Moore and Nathan Broadhead are among the nine players that have signed since the end of last season.

"I think it's a great lift for everybody because with Wrexham everyone's very proud of the club and the country," Parkinson said.

"And to attract players who are internationals shows where we are."

One of the four professional Welsh clubs playing in the EFL, was Parkinson consciously seeking Wales qualified players for his squad?

"It's not really been a conscious effort," Parkinson replied.

"Just starting with Danny, we wanted to bring in an experienced goalkeeper and obviously Danny was very keen to come to us.

"He had offers to go into the Premier League as a number two or number three but straight away him and his agent said his preferred choice was Wrexham.

"Obviously that appeals to us that a player really wants to come to the club and understands what the area and the club's about straight away.

"And then with Kieffer, also the big attraction for him was coming to a Welsh club and obviously the Wrexham story.

"Nathan, coming back home it's great for him to be close to his family and his family to be able to watch him play.

"That was a very special moment for him when he finally got here."

Wrexham host West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (12:30 BST) hunting their first win of their Championship season as the Baggies eye another victory after grabbing all three points against Blackburn on the opening weekend.

Red Dragons manager Phil Parkinson praised Ollie Palmer after his two goals helped them beat Hull City on penalties in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and revealed the player wants to stay, after his first competitive outing since February.

• This will be the first league meeting between Wrexham and West Brom, though the pair have met once before in the FA Cup, with the Welsh side winning 1-0 in January 1930.

• West Brom have won only one of their last seven away league games in Wales (D3 L3); a 1-0 victory at Cardiff City in November 2023.

• Wrexham have won their opening home game in five of their last six Football League campaigns with the only exception coming in 2023-24 (a 5-3 defeat by MK Dons).

• Following their 1-0 win at home to Blackburn on MD1, West Brom will be looking to start a league campaign with back-to-back victories for the first time since 2017-18 in the Premier League.

• In their opener vs Southampton, Wrexham goalkeeper Danny Ward made seven saves – the joint-most in a league match by a keeper for the club since they returned to the EFL in 2023-24.

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Wrexham will go to Championship rivals Preston North End in the second round of the Carabao Cup, with the tie to be played in the week beginning Monday, 25 August.

The Dragons overcame second-tier opposition in the first round on Tuesday, with Phil Parkinson's side triumphing on penalties after two late Ollie Palmer goals secured a 3-3 draw at the end of 90 minutes.

Preston, who most recently faced Wrexham in 1999-2000, progressed thanks to a 1-0 win at Barrow.

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With Wrexham back at Championship level for the first time since 1982, BBC Sport Wales asked fans for their views after the opening day defeat at Southampton.

Mick: "One game in and new signings made a positive impact. Too early for predictions as it will take time for the team to gel. We will have a better idea at the end of August. Overall feeling positive for the season."

Karl: "Promising start in what is going to be a real competitive environment. The more games under our belt, the more comfortable the team will be in how to react to what is in front of them."

Rich: "Wrexham are doing the town proud. [Conor] Coady was super at the back and [Liberato] Cacace looks top drawer. Will it be tough? Of course it will and we are not under any illusions otherwise. Bring it on, this is one heck of an adventure."

Sandra: "A really good start to the season by Wrexham and I think that things will get better. Getting up to speed with the Championship will take time but with a difficult game against a relegated club first off was always going to be hard. Got to say though, I think that the Moore signing is always going to be difficult to justify. At the end of the day Wrexham I think will be safe. Go on you new welsh HEROES."

Jane: "I thought Wrexham overall played well considering this is a new team. Pace was good and a keeness to win which wasn't always there before. Passing was good but Wrexham need to be more assertive and confident. The support was fantastic."

Mark: "Excellent display against a top side for this Division. Saints have a large squad of top Championship players and with depth in all positions. We started with 6 new players and it was tribute to the staff at the club that they played so well together. Wrexham will be fine this season and we will strengthen further before the end of the window."

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Wrexham forward Ryan Hardie says he apologised to his team-mates for missing a "crucial" chance at Southampton that might have sealed a thrilling opening-day win.

Hardie was put through on goal after coming off the bench at St Mary's but saw his shot brilliantly fingertipped to safety by Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.

Had the 28-year-old scored, it would have put Wrexham 2-0 up, but a few moments later Ryan Manning brought Southampton level before Jack Stephens bundled in the winner six minutes into injury time.

"I don't get massively disappointed missing chances if they come along quite often, but the one that I missed was crucial in the game," said the Scottish striker, who joined Wrexham from Plymouth Argyle in June.

"If I had put that in, I think it would've then been a different game. So I took time to apologise to everyone.

"It's part and parcel of being a striker - we're going to miss some chances. But the keeper made a great save. It was just one of those days, but we've also got to do our jobs better and see the game out."

Hardie is hoping to make his first competitive start for the Red Dragons when they host Hull City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

"The atmosphere at the weekend was brilliant - even when we came out for the warm-up, the fans were incredible," said Hardie.

"If there's an extra 7,000 or 8,000 on top of that at home on Tuesday night, it's going to be bouncing for sure.

"I'm excited to play there [at Stok Cae Ras] for the first time, and the cup gives people opportunities to play, to get minutes.

"We want to go as far as we can in the competition."

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It was a thrilling start to Wrexham's Championship campaign - but heart-breaking in the end as Southampton denied the Red Dragons a dream opening-day win at St Mary's by overturning their 1-0 lead with two late goals.

Wrexham had led for more than 60 minutes after debutant Josh Windass put them ahead from the penalty spot following a foul on fellow new signing Kieffer Moore.

Boss Phil Parkinson gave debuts to four other summer signings - Moore's Wales teammate Danny Ward in goal, defender Connor Coady, and midfielders Lewis O'Brien and Liberato Cacace.

So what did you make of the performance? Which of the new signings impressed you most? Do Wrexham really need more new players? Let us know your views here.

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Phil Parkinson remains determined to further bolster his Wrexham squad but insists players already at the club will be given every chance to succeed in the Championship.

Injured midfielder George Thomason was the only one of Wrexham's eight summer signings to date not to make their competitive debut for the club in the opening day loss at Southampton.

When asked if he remains eager for more signings, Parkinson said: "Without a doubt - we're working towards that.

"We want to keep strengthening the squad so it's competitive enough to give us a chance in this division.

"We're bringing players in to help the existing players."

Players including captain Matty James and academy product Max Cleworth impressed at St Mary's Stadium having previously played a part in helping Wrexham gain promotion into the second tier.

And Parkinson stressed that those who have been part of Wrexham's rise up the divisions remain integral to his plans.

"As much as I'm pleased with the new lads today, Max [Cleworth], Brunty [Lewis Brunt], outstanding performances," added the 57-year-old.

"Barney [Ryan Barnett], first half he gave that left wing-back so many problems. George Dobson, great, Matty James, great. That means a lot.

"We're not bringing players in and writing them off. We want to see them step up and we saw that today."

Wales duo Nathan Broadhead and Lewis Koumas are among those to have been linked with a move to the Stok Cae Ras.

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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has questioned whether Southampton should have been reduced to 10 men before a thrilling late comeback at St Mary's Stadium saw the Saints win Saturday's Championship opener 2-1.

The Welsh side led for much of the match thanks to a Josh Windass penalty after Kieffer Moore was shoved over in the area by Ronnie Edwards, only for Southampton to snatch victory with two goals in time added on.

But Parkinson believes that Southampton defender Edwards should have been sent off for his foul on Moore that led to Wrexham's 22nd-minute spot kick.

"I want to look at the moment again when he [Moore] is clean through [on goal] and gets pushed down for the penalty," Parkinson said after the game.

"I've just spoken to the ref [James Bell] and said my interpretation of that rule is that if it's an intentional push it's a straight red.

"We saw that from the touchline, we saw it again on the footage at half-time and I can't see how he's not got that right, it's a game-changing moment if they go down to 10 men.

"I know the ref feels there was a covering defender but if you're just about to strike the ball on goal and the player intentionally pushes you to the ground, for me the ref's got to make that call right."