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Wrexham director Shaun Harvey shares thoughts on boss Phil Parkinson after hearing early ‘moans and groans’
Shaun Harvey Director of Wrexham AFC walks the field at Levi's Stadium on July 24, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.
Photo by Lyndsay Radnedge/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Wrexham are gearing up for this weekend’s game against Rotherham United with Phil Parkinson seeking a big victory on the road.

The international break will be coming to an end in the coming days and Wrexham fans are no doubt excited for the return of League One action.

Wrexham sit second in League One after a superb start to the season, claiming six wins from 10 games.

This international break has provided a welcome break for Wrexham players, who played through the last international break.

Wrexham will be preparing for this weekend’s clash with Rotherham United though and Phil Parkinson wants a big away result.

Wrexham have claimed just one point from the last three away games and have won just once on the road so far this season, so a big result in South Yorkshire would be a huge boost.

Phil Parkinson manager / head coach of Wrexham during the Bristol Street Motors Trophy match between Wrexham and Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 at Rac...
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Shaun Harvey on Phil Parkinson

Parkinson won’t be too concerned about the way form just yet and Wrexham fans know to trust him.

Parkinson arrived in 2021 and after one failed push for promotion, guided Wrexham to back-to-back promotions.

Now competing at the top end of League One, Parkinson has done an incredible job in the STōK Cae Ras dugout.

Maybe Wrexham’s football hasn’t been flashy but it has got the job done with Parkinson taking the club forward brilliantly.

Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has now commented on Parkinson and heaped praise on the former Bolton Wanderers boss.

Speaking to The Leader, Harvey has admitted that Wrexham prioritised an experienced manager in 2021.

Harvey noted that everybody at Wrexham now trusts Parkinson, but only because he has earned that trust over the years at the club.

Harvey remembers ‘moans and groans’ from Wrexham fans but the club always had belief in Parkinson to take the club forward.

“None of us at the time truly knew how big the football club was going to become back then,” said Harvey.

“But what we did realise was with everything else that was going to be attached to the club, we needed a manager with experience. Not just an experienced manager but somebody who was prepared to commit for the long term.

“Everybody says it’s been great but it was always going to be. There were moans and groans amongst the fanbase early on that we weren’t delivering, you have just got to have courage and strength in your conviction.

“What success over a period of time buys you is that right. You should have it right from the start but understandably, everybody needs to be persuaded it is right rather than trusting you. Whereas at the moment, I think the phrase ‘in Phil we trust’ is probably the default now for the majority of fans but that is only because he has earned it over the last three-and-a-bit years,” he added.

Parkinson here to stay

Wrexham were linked with so many names when searching for a manager in 2021.

There may have been a temptation to go for a big name in Mark Hughes, somebody who would have brought a huge reputation and a hometown presence.

Wrexham instead went for Parkinson, who had bags of EFL experience with the likes of Colchester United, Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland.

Luring Parkinson to the National League was a huge coup anyway and he is now proving that he can still get the job done at League One level.

Sunderland may not have been a great fit for Parkinson but Wrexham certainly has been.

Parkinson and Wrexham have been a match made in heaven, so we can’t see that changing any time soon.

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