Wrexham have just confirmed their ninth exit before the transfer window even opens as Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds prepare for League One.
The transfer window doesn’t open until a month today but Wrexham have kickstarted their preparations ahead of League One.
Phil Parkinson’s men will play third-tier football for the first time in nearly two decades and the former Bradford City boss knows a squad overhaul is required.
During their promotion-winning campaign last term, Wrexham still had a lot of players in their roster who have been there since the very start of their journey, including captain Luke Young and defensive stalwarts Ben Tozer and Aaron Hayden.
Sadly, that trio were among eight exits announced from their released/retained list upon completion of their League Two campaign, with the Welsh side now announcing a ninth exit.
Wrexham announce the departure of Scott Butler
In their released/retained list, Wrexham communicated that a decision on Scott Butlers’ future was deferred until the end of his successful loan spell at Marine.
The 21-year-old centre-back helped Marine win promotion to the National League North, but unfortunately, such an achievement wasn’t enough to place him in Parkinson’s plans.
An ex-Swansea City youth star – who returned to the Reds during the 2022/23 campaign – made his senior Wrexham debut in the FA Trophy in January 2023, and also represented Wrexham Red Dragons at TST last summer.
With the competition Parkinson boasted defensively, the chances of the young defender ever making a breakthrough – similar to Max Cleworth – were slim.
And although his departure won’t leave a giant hole in Wrexham’s squad, it’s still reinforced the need to strengthen their rearguard.
Wrexham need to bolster their defence
Wrexham are left with limited options in defence as Butler’s exit from the club followed the departures of Tozer, Hayden and Jordan Tunnicliffe.
Currently, Parkinson is left with Tom O’Connor, Cleworth, Eoghan O’Connell and Will Boyle as centre-back options while George Evans can fill that spot if needed.
There is no doubt that his trio of Cleworth, O’Connell and O’Connor can perform well in League One but there is a distinct lack of depth that Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are looking to fill.
The Reds have already been linked with promotion-winning defender Marvin Ekpiteta, who looks set to depart Blackpool, while released Portsmouth centre-back Sean Raggett should also be on their radar.
It’s clear that Wrexham crave the added experience at this level defensively, as the old saying goes; attack wins you matches, but a strong defence wins you titles.
Reynolds and McElhenney would love to exercise that saying next season and if they can improve their squad with the right personnel, a promotion charge wouldn’t be out of the question.
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