**Wrexham Face Major Squad Shake-Up as Championship Ambitions Prompt Potential Player Exits**
Wrexham AFC are preparing for a busy summer of transfers, with multiple departures expected as the club looks to strengthen for life in the Championship. The North Wales side, who sealed promotion from League One last season under the ownership of Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is now facing the challenging task of adjusting their squad to be competitive at the higher level. Manager Phil Parkinson has been candid about the need for change, stating that additional squad members could leave in the coming weeks.
Already, the club has parted ways with several experienced figures whose contracts expired at the end of the campaign, including striker Steven Fletcher, goalkeeper Mark Howard, and local favourite Jordan Davies. However, the door is now open for further players to leave, even those currently contracted, as Parkinson seeks to create room for new signings.
Speaking to local press, Parkinson revealed that some of the squad’s peripheral members might want to pursue regular first-team football elsewhere. “As the summer and pre-season progress, it’s natural that some players who haven’t featured as much will look to move on. We all love being at Wrexham, but players value their own careers and need game time. At the same time, we must make space to accommodate new arrivals to remain competitive,” he explained.
The club’s ambitions have certainly been buoyed by its new financial firepower. Since the takeover by Reynolds and McElhenney, Wrexham has become one of the most-watched lower-league clubs, with a global fanbase partly attributed to the success of the Disney+ docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’. With expectations higher than ever, the odds of high-profile arrivals appear strong; the likes of Fulham’s Tom Cairney and Leicester veteran Jamie Vardy have been linked with moves to the Racecourse Ground.
However, the flipside of such plans means lengthy Saturday afternoons on the sidelines may await several regulars from the past two promotion campaigns. Amongst those tipped to exit is Jake Bickerstaff, a 23-year-old forward who spent last season out on loan at Altrincham, finding the net just twice in 26 appearances. Also on the potential departure list is defender Will Boyle, a 2023 summer signing from Huddersfield, who found game opportunities limited to only EFL Trophy fixtures.
One of last January’s arrivals, wing-back Luke Bolton, has struggled to secure a league appearance and may now be surplus to requirements. The same could be said for Jacob Mendy, a stalwart of the team’s dramatic National League promotion, who made only four league appearances last term despite previously playing a key role.
Midfielder George Evans was expected to shine after joining from Derby and impressing in his initial outings but struggled to maintain a regular spot, making just seven league appearances. With speculation suggesting Parkinson is targeting a new marquee midfielder, such as Fulham captain Cairney, Evans could be moved on to facilitate incoming signings.
The attack is under even greater scrutiny. Supporters’ favourite and promotion hero Ollie Palmer could also be heading for the exit after dropping down the pecking order, mainly due to the arrivals of Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith in January. Fans took to social media to express displeasure at Palmer’s lack of minutes, and talk of a move back south has intensified.
Perhaps the most poignant development is the uncertain future of Paul Mullin, who has scored over a century of goals since his 2021 arrival and enjoys a special relationship with both supporters and Reynolds. Mullin, who even had a cameo in Reynolds’ film ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, struggled for fitness and place following back surgery last summer. Recent reports indicate Wrexham are open to the possibility of him leaving, with Wigan Athletic rumoured as a potential destination.
As Wrexham aim to consolidate their remarkable rise and make an impact in the Championship, balancing nostalgia for recent heroes with the harsh realities of squad development appears the central challenge ahead. For now, fans await both departures and arrivals with anticipation, as the club’s Hollywood-backed adventure enters its most ambitious chapter yet.