"Championship" - Wrexham AFC fired long-term warning ahead of League One bout | OneFootball

Having secured promotion with two games to spare upon their return to the Football League, Wrexham AFC's planning for a return to League One will already be in full swing.

The Red Dragons secured promotion back to the third tier in some style, putting six past Forest Green Rovers to remarkably earn back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club's history, returning to the division they were relegated from 19 years ago. And while the players are enjoying a return trip to Las Vegas - as they did following their National League triumph last year - Phil Parkinson will have his eyes firmly set on improving his squad ahead of the new campaign.

During Parkinson's first summer in charge of Wrexham in 2021, he signed a number of key figures who would help to transform the club's fortunes, many of whom have taken them up through two divisions, with the club successfully securing a second-place finish in League Two by beating champions Stockport County 2-1 during the final weekend of the campaign.

The foundations for Wrexham's back-to-back promotions have been laid on a highly impressive record at the Racecourse as well, where the club sell out every week.

Since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney announced their purchase of the North Wales club in late 2020 for around £2 million, Wrexham have won the National League and gained promotion to League One in the following season, and seen enormous growth off the pitch commercially as well.

They will hope to continue their upwards momentum into the third tier, where they face plenty of ex-Premier League teams week-to-week. Ultimately, that is where their ambitious owners hope they will be at some stage.

Jermaine Pennant: Wrexham limit the Championship

Jermaine Pennant played over 230 times in the Premier League for the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, and Stoke City, whilst also featuring for Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic in his career, whom Wrexham will be facing next season in League One.

The 41-year-old has long since retired, dismissing the idea of joining the journey at Wrexham, and although he believes that they can go far up the ladder in English football, he is expecting the second tier to be their ceiling.

Speaking to Football League World, via FastestPayoutOnlineCasino.com, he said: "I’ve just come back from the Asia tour for Liverpool and we had three games in 12 days and I couldn’t walk after the third one.

"So I don’t think you’ll see me playing in 46 games a season unless I really conditioned my body! So you know, I’ll just stick to my exhibition games.

"The Premier League might be a long shot for Wrexham, but saying that, look at Luton being in the Premier League from non-league, so it’s possible.

"I think the chances are slim but never say never, I think the furthest they will get is the Championship."

Wrexham's next steps into League One

After breezing through two divisions in the last two seasons, optimism will be at an all-time high for everyone involved with Wrexham.

However, Pennant is right to temper expectations going forwards, with some huge clubs to contend with in League One, both historically and from a budget and resource point of view as well.

The challenge is far greater, with competition fierce in the third tier alongside the likes of Birmingham, Wigan, Huddersfield Town, Charlton Athletic, Reading, and Barnsley to name but a few.

They are clubs with a well-documented recent history in the second tier, and, of course, the Premier League as well.