Wrexham ended the season in style on Saturday afternoon, coming from behind to beat League Two champions Stockport County 2-1 at the STōK Cae Ras.
Wrexham already had promotion wrapped up earlier in April but showed no sign of slowing down.
A win over Crewe Alexandra was followed up by that victory over Stockport, ending the season with three wins in a row.
Fans are already looking ahead to life in League One and a potentially exciting summer ahead.
It’s only natural to look ahead to what could happen at Wrexham this summer, another chance for the club to take a step forward under Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
Looking back another outstanding season is important as well though and Wrexham’s End of Season Awards Evening took place on Monday night at William Aston Hall.
Paul Mullin winning the Player of the Season award caused a stir but we also saw midfielder Elliot Lee pick up an award too.
Alan Shearer message to Elliot Lee
Mullin got the fan vote but playmaker Lee was named Players’ Player of the Season, receiving recognition from his teammates for a fine season.
Lee racked up an incredible record of 16 goals in 46 games whilst also chipping in with five assists.
The 29-year-old had an enormous impact on Wrexham’s season and that he played in every single league game really says it all.
Lee did look exhausted at times towards the end of the season but Phil Parkinson just couldn’t give him an extended rest – he was just too important.
Wrexham players clearly appreciate the campaign Lee produced and he has even received received some support from Alan Shearer.
Wrexham posted confirmation of Lee’s award on Instagram and that’s where Shearer got involved.
The Premier League’s record goalscorer commented with a number of clapping emojis, applauding Lee on a superb season and a well-earned award.
Lee’s link to Shearer
Shearer’s message may seem a little random, but it’s down to Lee’s father.
Lee is the son of former Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee, who played alongside Shearer for many years at St James’ Park.
Lee senior and Shearer remain friends to this day and Shearer is often seen posting supportive messages to the Wrexham ace.
Maybe it’s time for McElhenney and Reynolds to extend the invitation to Shearer for him to come to a few games at the STōK Cae Ras next season.
This all just caps off a great season for Lee; 16 goals, promotion, a spot in the League Two Team of the Season, a nomination for League Two Player of the Season and now Wrexham’s Players’ Player of the Season.
Lee won’t stop there though and will be looking to make sure that he is in the conversation for more awards in a year’s time.
Ryan Reynolds wants more
So what comes next?
Wrexham were in a National League promotion battle in 2022, now Phil Parkinson and co are preparing for life in League One.
That rise is so fast and Reynolds has now admitted that he wants even more.
Reynolds has admitted that he wants promotion again and is doing everything he can in order to get Wrexham moving up once again.
We can admire Reynolds and his ambition but targeting Championship football just seems far too much right now.
Wrexham don’t have a permanent training ground and still have so much work to do in the transfer market just in order to become a competitive League One side, never mind one which can challenge for promotion.
Maybe that just means that a big summer is on the way, but our thoughts align closer with those of Humphrey Ker.
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Humphrey Ker shares Wrexham promotion stance
Wrexham executive director Ker has spoken to The Independent and was asked about the next step for Wrexham.
Ker is perhaps the sensible head – alongside Shaun Harvey – around the dreaming and ambition of McElhenney and Reynolds and he has played down another promotion.
Ker believes that going for promotion again would be a ‘real push’ and that the real objective is just to stay up and consolidate in League One before going again.
There is a fear in Ker that Wrexham would be going too fast by trying to go for promotion again, with the club’s infrastructure simply not ready for Championship football.
10th place in the table would be perfect for Ker; a top-half finish with the scope to then kick on and go again without stretching things too far.
Ker adds that promotion to the Premier League is a long-term goal but doesn’t want to do anything silly in pursuit of that goal.
“I think promotion again would be a real push,” Ker says. “Our objective is get up and stay up, stabilise and build a good platform, go again.”
“It wouldn’t actually be that good for the club as a whole, because we’d just be going so quickly,” added Kerr, who continued by saying that that he wants ‘something nice and comfortable’.
“Upper mid-table, please. Tenth. I’d be very happy with that.”, adding that Wrexham want to get to the Premier League ‘as quickly as possible, whilst being mindful of those challenges’.
There is nothing wrong with Reynolds dreaming about another promotion; Wrexham fans have been through some dark times and why get involved in football without thinking that you can go as high as possible?
Ker is a more realistic man though, one who knows plenty about football and understands the jump Wrexham are about to take.
Yes, seeing Wrexham in the Championship and Premier League would be incredible, especially after so long in the National League.
Next season should not be viewed as win or bust though; settling in mid-table in League One for a year or even two wouldn’t mean that the Wrexham project is stalling.
We would hope that Ker’s stance is the one Wrexham are really taking rather than going all-out for promotion, but we will learn so much about the club’s genuine aims for next season during the summer transfer window.
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