Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is bracing his side for the intensity and demands of Championship football as the club prepares for its first second-tier campaign in more than four decades. Their remarkable journey from the National League to the Championship has captivated fans, but Parkinson is under no illusions about the scale of the task ahead.
Wrexham back in Championship after 43 yearsParkinson urges calm amid inevitable setbacksOpening day challenge against SouthamptonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Welsh side’s rise has been meteoric. Three straight promotions have lifted Wrexham from the fifth tier to Saturday’s season opener away at Southampton, a club with recent Premier League pedigree and top-flight experience. Parkinson is no stranger to the Championship himself, having previously managed Bolton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic, and Hull City. That familiarity, however, does not diminish the challenge.
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While many are daring to dream of a fourth consecutive promotion to realise their Premier League dream, Parkinson is cautious. He recognises that sustaining momentum after such rapid progress will be difficult and warns that the squad may encounter its limits in the Championship.
WHAT PARKINSON SAID
"I think it's a great league," Parkinson said. "Every game feels like a real big match atmosphere. Understand the division, you can get on a good run, but you can very quickly be on a bad run and it can change quickly. Over the years the division is so tight, right to the end of the season. Last season so many teams were in contention for the play-offs.
"It is very tight. If we get beat in games, which inevitably will happen, let's make sure we don't overreact as a staff, regroup and work towards the next one. That's the mindset we had last year, we had setbacks along the way, people doubting us. People think with three promotions we've had praise all the time and plaudits, but we've had periods where people start questioning me as a manager, questioning the players. You come through these periods and there's always a bigger picture to look at."
DID YOU KNOW?
The Championship’s reputation for unpredictability is well earned. Last season alone, 15 managers either lost their jobs or departed by mutual consent, underlining its unforgiving nature. Parkinson acknowledges that such instability is part and parcel of the competition.
"That's just the nature of the division and football in general," Parkinson said. "As a manager, you've got to accept that and concentrate on doing your best every single day."