Wrexham A.F.C. will go into the new Championship campaign with belief that they can seal a play-off spot and that reaching the Premier League is realistic. That is the view of EFL pundit and regular football analyst Aaron McLean who believes there is a lot to come from The Racecourse outfit with more new signings.
What happened?
Phil Parkinson's side, on the back of securing a record-breaking three successive promotions, enjoyed a fantastic first season in the second tier for 43 years. Wrexham emerged as play-off contenders and eventually finished seventh, just two points away from a top-six finish.
Why it matters for Wrexham A.F.C.
The Championship play-offs will be expanded from four to six teams from next season onwards, and McLean, a former striker who played for the likes of Peterborough, Hull City, is expecting big things from the Reds. "For them to just miss out on the play-offs last season, yes, they'll be disappointed, but you're still up there, challenging," he told BetSelect. "They're still showing they can go on and compete, and they've given themselves a platform now.
What comes next?
"They know what the league's about. I think they'll go into the transfer market again this summer and recruit. "Last season would have given them a belief that with a few additions, and being a little bit more streetwise in certain periods of the season, there's no reason why they can't go on and challenge for the play-offs again. "Obviously, there are extra play-off spots this season as well. I fully expect them to be in and around it.
Wrexham A.F.C. finished 7th in the Championship last season with 71 points from 46 games, with a recent form of DLWWL. They have scored 69 goals and conceded 65 so far this season, with a goal difference of +4. They are 24 points behind the leaders Coventry.
McLean remains convinced that Wrexham are capable of clinching a place in the Premier League for the first time in the club's history in the coming years. "I definitely think the Premier League is realistic. I think that's the fairytale ending," he said. "For them to be at this point in their journey, I think they've gone way beyond all expectations. "It doesn't have to be this season, it doesn't even have to be next season. Most clubs will get a promotion and then, three or four years later, may push for another. "They've just gone bang, bang, bang, bang, and then just missed out on the final day of getting into the play-offs, so they're way ahead of schedule.
Wrexham A.F.C. will now need to recruit the right characters who are able to say no: when we go away from home, we can roll up our sleeves, compete, and not lose. They probably conceded more than they needed to last season, and I think their away form could have been better. At home at The Racecourse, for the last four or five years, they've been exceptional so home form's not a problem.
What's next for Wrexham A.F.C.?
The club will now look to build on their recent success and challenge for another promotion. With ambitious owners and a talented squad, they have all the ingredients to make a push for the Premier League in the coming years.
