Phil Parkinson insists Wrexham must embrace the challenge of the Sky Bet Championship as they prepare for their first match in the division for 43 years — an away trip to Southampton on Saturday.
Three straight promotions have carried the Red Dragons from the National League to the second tier, setting up an opening day clash with a side recently relegated from the Premier League.
It’s a level Parkinson knows well from previous stints with Bolton, Charlton and Hull.
“I think it’s a great league,” Parkinson said. “Every game feels like a real big match atmosphere.”
While some Wrexham fans have been bold enough to dream of a fourth consecutive promotion, the step up from League One to the Championship represents a much bigger leap than the climbs they have managed in the past two years.
It is a division known for its intensity and volatility, particularly for managers — 15 either left their post or were sacked during last season alone.
“That’s just the nature of the division and football in general,” Parkinson said.
“As a manager you’ve got to accept that and concentrate on doing your best every single day.
“Understand the division – you can get on a good run, but you can very quickly be on a bad run and it can change quickly. Over the years the division is so tight, right to the end of the season. Last season so many teams were in contention for the play-offs.
“It is very tight. If we get beat in games, which inevitably will happen, let’s make sure we don’t overreact as a staff, regroup and work towards the next one.
“That’s the mindset we had last year, we had setbacks along the way, people doubting us.
“People think with three promotions we’ve had praise all the time and plaudits, but we’ve had periods where people start questioning me as a manager, questioning the players. You come through these periods and there’s always a bigger picture to look at.”
READ MORE: Big Spending Wrexham Somehow Maintain Glitzy Underdog Appeal as Season Looms
Wrexham’s return to the second tier comes against a Southampton side looking to rebound from a disastrous Premier League campaign.
The Saints won only 12 points last season and suffered 30 defeats, forcing a change in direction under new boss Will Still.
Despite their struggles, Southampton’s squad retains top-flight experience and is widely tipped to compete for promotion.
Wrexham, meanwhile, have twice broken their transfer record this summer and added proven names such as Conor Coady and Kieffer Moore to underline the ownership’s intent.
Even so, some pundits have suggested the club may need a period of consolidation in the Championship before mounting a serious Premier League push.
READ MORE: Dogg Gone It! We Ain’t No Wrexham Insists Swansea City Boss
For Parkinson, the visit to St Mary’s is a chance to test his team in unfamiliar territory — and to do so as underdogs for one of the few times since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s takeover.
“It’s amazing that we’ll be running out at Southampton in front of a packed house, against a team that has spent a lot of time in the Premier League over the last few years,” he said.
“When I look at my first game here, Solihull away in front of a couple of thousand people, and four years later we’re running out at Southampton. Sometimes you do have to step back and appreciate what we’ve done.”
Southampton approach the new campaign with confidence after a strong pre-season, while Wrexham — with five likely first-team signings to bed in — may still be finding their rhythm.
The Saints are clear favourites for the opener, but Parkinson’s message to his squad is to meet the challenge head-on.
“I don’t want us to fear it,” he said of the Championship. “I want us to go into every game ready to be positive.
“We’ve always been at our best when we’ve played in a positive way. We’re going to go into each game with that mindset and see where that takes us.”
READ MORE: Kieffer Moore Vows Leadership Role After Completing Wrexham Move
