Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been praised for making the "narrative" at Wrexham "like Hollywood", with three successive promotions being enjoyed, but they are being warned that sacking record-breaking manager Phil Parkinson would be "absolute madness". The odd question has been asked of the Red Dragons’ boss this season, with Steven Gerrard rumoured to be a possible contender to take over at SToK Racecourse.
Questions of Parkinson despite stunning Wrexham record
Those inside the Wrexham camp have been doing their best to ignore the outside noise, with there little substance to the managerial speculation for now. A slow start to the 2025-26 campaign, on the back of a big summer spend in the transfer market, delivered inevitable gossip in North Wales. Coaches, regardless of their history, are always under pressure to deliver positive results.
Parkinson has done that for the most part since picking up the reins at Wrexham in 2021. He has overseen 140 wins from 231 games at the helm, with the faith shown in him by Hollywood co-owners being richly rewarded. Whatever happens from here, the 57-year-old is assured of a place in Red Dragons folklore.
AdvertisementGettyLinks to Gerrard: Why they make little sense
More successes on the field will help to bring the unwelcome rumours to a close, as links to Liverpool legend Gerrard die down, with Ally McCoist among those to have been left baffled by suggestions that Parkinson could be relieved of his duties after guiding Wrexham out of the National League and into the Championship.
Ex-Scotland international McCoist told football betting site talkSPORT Bet: "Steven Gerrard has unfinished business in management, and I believe he'll want to return, whether in Scotland or England. Regarding Wrexham, how can their manager be under pressure? The whole narrative has been like Hollywood, and it's been fantastic to follow. It couldn't have been easy for the manager to keep everyone grounded amidst all the excitement.
"I said last year that this season Wrexham would find their level. I'd put Birmingham in the same category, they were never going to keep getting promoted all the way to the top. There was always going to be a leveling-off period.
"The most important thing for Wrexham now is to avoid slipping backward. They shouldn't get a new manager or start throwing their toys out of the pram just because the rise has levelled off. It was always going to happen, and it's levelled off exactly where I expected.
"What's needed now is calmness and a reality check. This is where they are, and it's crucial they don't go down. Having leveled off, they need to maintain this position, perhaps for a couple of seasons, and continue to invest and strengthen the squad. As I said, this period was always going to come, and it's no surprise to me. To get rid of the manager now would be absolute madness."
Director rubbished Parkinson exit rumours
Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has done his best to rubbish the Parkinson gossip, telling the podcast: "It's an absolute disgrace. I think we're all disappointed we've not got more than four points at this moment in time. But to start quoting discussions and meetings that have taken place is the bit that's the disgrace.
"Phil has everybody at the club's full support. I know before somebody starts writing headlines, 'Harvey gives Parkinson the vote of confidence'. That is not the vote of confidence. What I'm saying is, he's got our full support. You can only give somebody a vote of confidence when you've actually discussed the future. It's not even been on anywhere near an agenda as yet.
"So, if that day comes, the decision has to be taken. But Phil's our man. We've backed him from the start. We backed him from four years ago. We've had all the success under that regime. Why should we start panicking now?"
GettyNext up for Wrexham: Brady & Birmingham approaching
Wrexham sit 15th in the Championship table at present, with eight points being collected from seven games. They did acquire Premier League pedigree over the summer, when spending more than £30 million ($40m), and have another intriguing tussle with Tom Brady’s Birmingham fast approaching – with the Blues due at the Racecourse on Friday.
