Wrexham to face League One challenge 'full on'

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Elliot Lee celebrates after Wrexham secured automatic promotion last season

Manager Phil Parkinson says Wrexham are ready to face the challenge of the upcoming League One campaign 鈥渇ull on鈥.

Wrexham achieved a second successive promotion last season after finishing second in League Two.

Parkinson has already signed defender Lewis Brunt and midfielder George Dobson, as well as adding goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo on a permanent basis.

鈥淓verything at your football club has got to improve to match those standards we鈥檙e going to come up against,鈥 Parkinson said.

鈥淏ut that鈥檚 the challenge we worked hard to achieve and now it鈥檚 up to us to face it full on with a really positive mindset.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited to have a go at the division.

"There's an expectancy on a lot of other clubs in this division.

"Birmingham, Bolton and Huddersfield and all those teams are going to be under huge pressure to produce this season.

"I think having that underdog card to play at times won't do us any harm.

"But we've got to go about our business with real clarity with what we want to achieve in terms of the squad and we'll see if that makes us competitive."

Wrexham host Wycombe Wanderers in their opening game of the new season on Saturday, 10 August.

Parkinson, who has previously managed Bolton and Charlton Athletic in League One, is fully aware of the challenges awaiting his side in the division.

鈥淲ith the teams coming down it鈥檚 always difficult to assess them because they鈥檒l lose players and they鈥檒l bring players in,鈥 Parkinson told 大象传媒 Sport Wales.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of movement in teams like Birmingham, Huddersfield and Rotherham already so it鈥檚 difficult to assess.

鈥淏ut the top games at this level are like Championship games from my experience managing here.

鈥淥bviously the athleticism goes up a notch, the quality improves.鈥

Wrexham鈥檚 squad returned to training last week and later this month will embark on a three-game tour of North America.

鈥淭here was definitely a feeling of real positivity on the first day of training,鈥 Parkinson said.

鈥淭he lads have had a great break, mentally and physically.

鈥淓ven though they鈥檝e been working in the off-season they鈥檝e had time away from the training ground and you could feel that freshness when they came back in.

鈥淭he fixtures came out the first day we were back in for testing and it was great to be together when they came out.

鈥淚t really hit home to everybody that yes, we鈥檙e in League One.

鈥淔or the first time in 19 years we鈥檒l be competing at this level and what an exciting season ahead it is for us.鈥