3 managers Wrexham should be eyeing as Phil Parkinson pressure grows ft ex-Leicester City boss | OneFootball

We looked at three managers who should be on Wrexham's radar as pressure increases on Phil Parkinson following the 6-0 defeat at West Ham.

It is fair to say it has been an underwhelming start to the Championship season for Wrexham, and pressure is starting to build on manager Phil Parkinson.

Wrexham missed out on the play-offs on the final day of last season in their first year back in the Championship, and they have made no secret of their desire to challenge for promotion once again this campaign, but it has not been the start the Welsh outfit had hoped for.

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Parkinson has been in charge at the SToK Cae Ras since the summer of 2021, and he oversaw a historic three consecutive promotions from 2022 and 2025 as Wrexham went from the National League to the Championship, but, for the first time, it feels as though his position could be under genuine threat.

The Red Dragons have picked up just seven points from their opening seven games of the season, with their only win coming in a 3-0 victory at Millwall earlier this month, and it was a night to forget for Parkinson's men on Friday as they were thrashed 6-0 by West Ham United.

Goals from Jarrod Bowen, Joel Piroe, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Taty Castellanos, Mohamadou Kante and Manor Solomon secured an emphatic victory for the Hammers at the London Stadium, inflicting Parkinson's worst defeat as Wrexham manager.

With a home game against another of the promotion favourites, Southampton, to come next weekend, it does not get much easier for Parkinson, and the Red Dragons may still have nightmares about their 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the Saints earlier this year.

Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have remained loyal to Parkinson over the past five years, but with the extended three-week international break approaching, it could be the perfect time to make a managerial change, and we have looked at three managers the Hollywood duo should consider if they part company with the 58-year-old.

Scott Parker

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Wrexham invested heavily in the transfer market once again this summer, with the likes of Anthony Patterson, Danny Imray, Jacques Ekomie and Callum O'Hare arriving for significant fees, suggesting the ownership remain committed to leading the club to the Premier League as soon as possible.

With that in mind, the Red Dragons may look to appoint a promotion specialist if they decide to replace Parkinson, and former Burnley boss Scott Parker could be the perfect candidate.

Parker has won promotion in each of his three seasons in the Championship, first winning the play-offs with Fulham in the 2019-20 season before leading Bournemouth and Burnley to second place in the 2021-22 and 2024-25 campaigns respectively.

While Fulham and Bournemouth were widely expected to achieve promotion, Parker's work at Burnley was arguably his most impressive, as his Clarets side accumulated a remarkable total of 100 points and conceded just 16 goals all season.

However, despite his stunning Championship record, Parker has struggled to make the step up to the Premier League, with the 45-year-old already suffering relegation from the top flight on three occasions, and that may be a red flag for the Red Dragons.

Sean Dyche

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With the transfer window now closed and the season well underway, Wrexham will want to minimise disruption if they were to make a managerial change, particularly as a period of transition could extend their poor start even further.

Parkinson has delivered incredible success during his time at the SToK Cae Ras playing a relatively direct brand of football, and if the Red Dragons are keen to go down a similar path, Sean Dyche could be an ideal stylistic fit.

After beginning his managerial career with Watford, Dyche made a name for himself during his near decade-long spell at Burnley, guiding the Clarets to two promotions to the Premier League, establishing them in the top flight and even reaching the Europa League after a seventh-placed finish in the 2017-18 season.

Dyche had a solid 18-month spell at Everton after leaving Turf Moor, successfully helping the Toffees avoid relegation from the Premier League, and his most recent role came at Nottingham Forest, where he won 10 of his 25 games before being sacked after less than four months in charge in February.

While Dyche would not be the most glamorous appointment, the 55-year-old has consistently achieved his objectives at each of his clubs, despite often working with a limited budget, and he could be the right man to take Wrexham into the next chapter of their journey.

Steve Cooper

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While Wrexham could target someone with a similar philosophy to Parkinson such as Dyche, they may decide to seek a manager with a more attractive, expansive style of play, which could make Steve Cooper an appealing option.

Cooper began his coaching career in the Liverpool and England youth systems before making the step up to senior management with Swansea City in the summer of 2019, and he led the Swans to two consecutive play-off finishes in the Championship, but they were unable to get over the line on both occasions.

After suffering heartbreak with Swansea, Cooper eventually won promotion to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest in the 2021-22 season after beating Huddersfield Town in the play-off final, and the achievement was particularly impressive given that the Reds were bottom of the table when he arrived at the City Ground.

Cooper kept Forest in the top flight the following season before being dismissed in December 2023, and his subsequent managerial roles have not gone to plan, with the 46-year-old enduring brief stints at Leicester City and Brondby.