Dean Saunders hits back at critics of Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson

Dean Saunders has dismissed criticism of Phil Parkinson as 'ridiculous'. The former Wrexham A.F.C. Manager insists the current boss is doing a great job despite external pressure following a heavy defeat.

"The stick Phil Parkinson has been getting is ridiculous, isn’t it?" Saunders said. He argued that Parkinson's achievement of securing three successive promotions from the National League to the Championship should earn him patience. Wrexham currently sit 14th in the Championship with 10 points from eight games, having bounced back from a 6-0 loss to West Ham with a 2-1 home win over Southampton.

Financial context and budget

Saunders highlighted the significant financial support Parkinson has received, contrasting it sharply with his own tenure. "I know he’s been given a lot of money. I managed Wrexham and my budget was £750,000 for the year in the Conference," he said. He pointed out that even with increased spending, the Championship presents a unique challenge, with relegated Premier League sides like West Ham operating on budgets twice the size of Wrexham's. Saunders admitted he never thought the club would spend £10 million on a player, but stressed that money alone does not guarantee success. He also noted the club's current wage bill is approximately £20 million, a figure that shows the scale of investment but also the competitive pressure of the division.

Recent results and turning point

The defence comes after one of the toughest results of Parkinson's reign, a 6-0 defeat at West Ham. The team responded by beating Southampton 2-1 at the Racecourse Ground, with Kieffer Moore opening the scoring and a late own goal sealing their first home league win of the season. That victory forms part of a recent run of WLDDW, showing signs of a potential turnaround. Saunders believes the next few games will indicate if this is a genuine shift in form. He specifically pointed to the team's resilience, noting they have been behind for a total of 247 minutes in matches this season but have fought back to gain points.

Parkinson's legacy at Wrexham is built on consistent, smart team-building through each promotion. The club narrowly missed the play-offs last season and is now focused on establishing itself in the second tier. Their immediate task is an away fixture against Derby County on 10 October, a match that will test whether the Southampton result marks the start of sustained improvement. The match at Pride Park is scheduled for a 19:45 GMT kick-off. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and review the current squad list.

First reported at North Wales Chronicle