27 December 2023 , 12:48
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Wrexham currently sit second in League Two as the club’s Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney eye successive promotions.
Back in November 2020, Deadpool star Reynolds teamed with McElhenney - famed for creating and starring in ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ - to purchase Wrexham for £2.25m. The duo have become symbols of Welsh football around the world thanks to the exposure their platforms have bought to the club and area, largely though the popular Disney+ documentary titled ‘Welcome to Wrexham’.
After 15 years outside the football league, the Red Dragons secured the National League title to clinch promotion to League Two. Wrexham made several signings to bolster the squad as the celebrity owners eyed successive promotions.
Following Wrexham’s 1-0 win over Swindon Town on Boxing Day, the club sits second over Christmas and occupies one of the three automatic promotion places. Wrexham find themselves just four points behind table-topping Stockport County, although the Hatters have played an extra game.
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Meanwhile, Mansfield Town are just one point behind Wrexham while owning a game in hand on the Red Dragons themselves. Fourth-placed Barrow have played as many games as Wrexham and sit two points behind the Welsh club in a tight race for promotion.
Wrexham face lower-midtable Walsall before clashing with Barrow in a huge game on New Year’s Day. Winning those matches, combined with Stockport dropping points against Bradford City and Mansfield, could see Wrexham top the table in the New Year.
Due to Crewe Alexandra and Notts County's recent poor form, there is a five-point gap between fourth and fifth in League Two. With a four-team showdown for the three automatic promotion places beginning to take shape, Wrexham could return to the transfer marker additions could prove crucial to ensuring they are not the odd team out.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has overhauled the squad since taking over back in the summer of 2021. The backing of Reynolds and McElhenney has helped the club orchestrate several high-profile signings - and there could be more to come in January.
Last January, Eoghan O'Connell arrived on deadline day from Charlton Athletic. Parkinson is on the look out for a similar boost next month.
Phil Parkinson celebrated with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney after he guided Wrexham to the National League title“I don't want to make any predictions for January - in terms of incoming players,” the 56-year-old told The Leader. “We have got a strong squad, but we are always looking. As our supporters know, we are always striving to improve, and we are assessing a lot of situations at the moment, but we are keeping our cards close to our chest.
The window opens at midnight on New Year's Day and slams shut at 11pm on January 31. Parkinson added: “We are just assessing the squad as we go along.
“We have got players coming back from injury, and we have got other players who haven't even been in the 22-man squad, so once January 1 kicks in, we can then bring those players back into the squad, because the 22-man squad rule doesn't count through January.
“We are just seeing how (Steven Fletcher) is (after undergoing knee surgery), seeing how (Ryan Barnett) looks coming back (from knee ligament damage), and just looking at various options for January. I am looking forward to welcoming players back into the group.”
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