Football General Manager
- Promotion specialist appointed in 2021
- Overseen three successive promotions
- Change being mooted in Championship
Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney worked hard to bring EFL promotion specialist Parkinson to North Wales shortly after their stunning takeover was completed in 2021.
They have seen him deliver a historic rise through the Football League, with 136 victories being picked up through 221 games at the helm. Parkinson’s place in Red Dragons folklore is safely secured.
Questions have, however, been asked of his tactical approach at times. More of those are doing the rounds as Wrexham step up into the Championship. It is being suggested that the 57-year-old will not see out the 2025-26 campaign at SToK Racecourse.
EFL pundit Ryan Dilks has told the Second Tier podcast when discussing managers that face axe threats: “Let’s go with someone who can probably get packing their bags now, Phil Parkinson at Wrexham. Probably one that’s not going to go down well with some Wrexham fans. But the reason I say that is because I just look at the job he’s done so far and great, he’s a Wrexham legend without a doubt, of course back-to-back-to-back promotions, it’s a pretty impressive thing to do. But I think he is above his level now, I think he’s out of his depth in the Championship based off all the evidence that we’ve seen from him before at Championship level and to be honest.n
“I’m quite surprised he’s managed to last this long at Wrexham because he’s not a big name, he’s not someone who I think is going to enhance a documentary put it that way.n
“So with that being said, I think this could be Phil Parkinson’s last season at Wrexham. I think the most likely scenario is they don’t do as well as expected, and then they sack him and get in a manager who’s a much bigger name and is more entertaining for a documentary. So yeah Phil Parkinson, I’m pretty sure about losing his job at some point this season.”
Reynolds and McElhenney have remained fiercely loyal to Parkinson, as the manager chosen to guide them through the divisions. They have, however, never shied away from the fact that they want to reach the Premier League, while ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ needs big names and drama in order to retain global interest.
