3 Phil Parkinson replacements Wrexham AFC must consider if he's sacked | OneFootball

Phil Parkinson's position at Wrexham is under pressure following a poor start to the new season

Wrexham have not made a strong start to life in the Championship under Phil Parkinson.

The Red Dragons spent heavily in the summer following their third consecutive promotion, having gone from the National League to the second tier in a very short span of time.

And a return of just four points from their opening five games has led to some pressure being applied on the manager, with the team sitting one place above the relegation zone.

While no decision has yet been made over his future, it has been reported by Talksport that talks have been held over potentially replacing him in the dugout.

Here we look at three names that could take charge at Wrexham if Parkinson is dismissed as manager…

Gary O’Neil

Gary O’Neil is currently out of work after being dismissed by Wolves midway through last season.

The 42-year-old maintained the club’s position in the Premier League, and has also kept Bournemouth in the top flight after replacing Scott Parker early in the 2022/23 season.

While it remains to be seen whether he would take the step down to the Championship, a position like at Wrexham could prove very tempting.

The Red Dragons are quite ambitious, and their profile could help them land a target with this level of experience.

He would bring solidity to the side, and help get the best out of the attacking talent currently available like Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass.

Danny Rohl

An obvious pick to potentially replace Parkinson is Danny Rohl, who showed his quality as a coach at this level during his time at Sheffield Wednesday.

He guided the team to safety from a near-certain relegation, before then overseeing a 12th place finish in his sole full campaign at Hillsborough.

The German will be very sought after by clubs due to his impressive work with the Yorkshire outfit, and it would be a real coup for Wrexham if they could land him.

While the current squad may not be best suited to his preferred style of play, players like Windass will know exactly what to expect after he thrived under Rohl at Sheffield Wednesday.

Rohl also showed his adaptability with the Owls, which could make him perfect for navigating this tricky first year in the Championship.

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is currently out of work following his exit from Middlesbrough at the end of the previous campaign.

The 44-year-old was unable to guide Boro to promotion in three attempts, but did lead them to a play-off semi-final, as well as eighth and 10th place finishes, all while the club regularly sold his best players.

He proved that he is more than good enough to be coaching at this level, and could be what Wrexham needs to become more competitive in the Championship.

While the Red Dragons are likely to give Parkinson more time to see if he can still bring the club forward, Carrick could be a smart ready-made replacement if they do pull the trigger on his exit.

It’s a role he will relish, especially with the backing he’s likely to receive from the Hollywood owners Rob McElhenny and Ryan Reynolds.