"You have to say goodbye to players" - Pundit issues verdict on Ollie Palmer's Wrexham AFC future | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer insists that Ollie Palmer still has a lot to give to the Red Dragons, but may move on if they go up with his contract up in the summer

Former England international midfielder turned pundit Carlton Palmer believes that Wrexham striker Ollie Palmer still has a lot to give to the Red Dragons, despite his contract being up at the end of the season - but should potentially be moved on if they go up to the Championship.

Palmer joined Wrexham from AFC Wimbledon in January 2022 with the club in the National League, breaking their transfer record in the process for a £300,000 fee, and has been a crucial part of their two successive promotions that have followed under Phil Parkinson to see them into League One.

The Epsom-born striker has made over 120 appearances for the club since moving to North Wales and netted 41 goals in that time, with double figures in each National League season.

He has barely seen his influence on the team wane as they have rapidly climbed the divisions, but at 32 years of age and with his current deal set to expire after this season concludes, his long-term future is uncertain as it stands.

Carlton Palmer offers verdict on Wrexham, Ollie Palmer contract situation

Wrexham target man Palmer has begun this season as a starter in Parkinson's side alongside Jack Marriott, and has registered two goals - one each against Reading and Shrewsbury Town - and an assist in five League One outings with the Red Dragons top of the table after a brilliant start to the campaign.

The veteran could end up dropping out though due to the return of the prolific Paul Mullin, who is being eased back into action following a spine injury that forced him to undergo surgery after the end of last season.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, former player and current pundit Carlton Palmer believes that the 32-year-old could still play a key role for the club this season, but will be realistic about his future and may have to seek pastures new if they achieve promotion to the Championship in May.

“He’s been an integral part of Wrexham’s rise. I still think he’s got a big part to play, the big centre-forward," Palmer told FLW.

“He was very integral as Phil Parkinson masterminded two successive promotions to take Wrexham from the National League to League One.

“He’s come out, Ollie, and said that he wants to stay there as long as possible, he wants to continue the journey, but obviously as you keep progressing you have to say goodbye to players on that journey - B en Tozer and Luke Young both left the club in the summer, as a result of that.

“With his experience I think he’s still got a big future and part to play. He’s been a vital presence since he joined from AFC Wimbledon in January 2022.

“He will be desperate to shine again this season. He said he wants to finish his career with Wrexham, but he will be realistic about that wish.

“I think he still has a big role to play. He partnered Paul Mullin in the promotion season and they were outstanding together.

“All he can do is get his head down and see what happens. We will have to wait and see what impact he has over the course of the season.”

Ollie Palmer's future may depend on which league Wrexham are in

When a club experiences such a quick rise like Wrexham have done, existing players are bound to be deemed surplus to requirements as better reinforcements are brought into the squad to aid the club's challenge in a tougher league.

The Red Dragons have seen numerous players that helped the club on their way out of non-league move on recently, with the aforementioned Ben Tozer and Luke Young allowed to leave in the summer to free up space for new recruits, as well as the likes of Sam Dalby and Jordan Davies, who were both loaned out ahead of their contracts expiring next summer.

Wrexham have certainly started the campaign with the clear aim of achieving a third successive promotion, and Palmer may well be no different to those players if Parkinson's side are in the second-tier next season.

He has never played in the Championship in his career, as yet, so it seems unlikely that he will make that step up when he is 33-years-old come next summer, and Palmer himself has been open and honest about his future with the club.

“I’d love to play for Wrexham until the end of my career - that would be my ultimate goal but the honest reality is that it’s growing at such a fast pace and the aim is to get into the Premier League and there’s no time to be sentimental, right?,” he told the Elvis Duran Show in pre-season.

“My aim is to be there as long as possible and to deliver the club success, and I’ll do that for as long as I’m wanted to."

If Wrexham do not achieve another promotion come May, then it would seem like a sensible decision to keep him around for another season at least, as he has not shown signs of slowing down in the third-tier and could keep on being a key part of the squad as they seek success.

With that said, his time at the STōK Cae Ras is set to end come next summer, and he will surely want to go out on a high and help Wrexham to go another step closer to the top-flight, even if it means he is allowed to move on.