Wrexham are gearing up for a campaign in League One and Rob McElhenney has just motivated the players to achieve an unprecedented third promotion in a row.
Wrexham’s rise from the doldrums of the National League to the third tier of English football has been a lot to take in.
Inspired by their Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the Reds have become a force to be reckoned with in the EFL.
Their dreams of taking Wrexham into the Premier League are edging ever closer and as they enter League One for the first time in almost two decades, there is a quiet optimism that a third promotion can be achieved.
It would be uncharted territory for any side in English football to achieve three promotions in a row but if anyone can, it’s a Wrexham side spearheaded by Phil Parkinson, a man who has escaped League One on three occasions himself.
McElhenney and Reynolds have claimed they’ll do whatever it takes to guide Wrexham into the Championship, with the former now adding extra motivation to do so.
Rob McElhenney has promised a third Las Vegas trip if promotion is sealed
Facilitated by the financial muscle of their Hollywood owners, the Wrexham squad have enjoyed consecutive trips to Las Vegas after achieving promotion.
Midfielder Andy Cannon described the most recent trip as ‘special’ as many of the players who travelled to the United States are no longer with the club, including Luke Young, Ben Tozer and Aaron Hayden.
It appears McElhenney wants to make a trip to Vegas a yearly ritual because if Parkinson guides Wrexham into the Championship, he’s promised a threequel to the first two holidays.
“Vegas again, I just got back from Las Vegas where we did it for the second time and if they get promoted again, I’ve promised them they will be sent to Vegas again,” McElhenney said.
“Much to the dislike of my co-chairman, so if you see Ryan, I don’t know if Ryan has come by yet; he’s gonna say no, and I’m gonna say yes.”
What do Wrexham need to win a third promotion?
To reach the second tier and celebrate a third promotion in Las Vegas, Wrexham require several players, including a goalkeeper, centre-back, central midfielder, left back and striker at the very least.
Of course, capturing Arthur Okonkwo on a free transfer is their priority, but failure to get him should see Parkinson look elsewhere.
Then it’s a case of improving a defence that is short on numbers after watching Hayden, Tozer and Jordan Tunnicliffe all depart. Parkinson’s current options of Eoghan O’Connell, Will Boyle, Tom O’Connor and Max Cleworth are brilliant, but depth – and perhaps some pace – is certainly needed.
Wrexham also crave some competition for Jacob Mendy, with the Wrexham boss intent on playing James McClean as a central midfielder permanently, which is a position that also needs bolstering.
A trio of George Evans, Cannon and Elliot Lee can hold its own in League One but again, reinforcements will be needed if they are to challenge.
That leaves a striker as firmly on their agenda, one who is an improvement on Steven Fletcher and Ollie Palmer to partner Paul Mullin.
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