Wrexham will be back in League One next season and that means some tough decisions for Phil Parkinson and co as the transfer window looms.
Back-to-back promotions was a dream for Wrexham fans, but now it’s a reality.
Wrexham will be back in League One for the first time in nearly 20 years and not everybody can continue on this incredible journey.
The end of the season brings retained lists from throughout the EFL and Wrexham’s was released on Friday.
Some popular players are leaving Wrexham this summer as their contracts expire, with Ben Tozer and Luke Young leading the way in that regard.
The veteran duo will be leaving the club after giving admirable service to the club and they will be joined by the likes of Aaron Hayden, Jordan Tunnicliffe and Callum McFadzean.
The next phase of Wrexham’s development is now upon us but Parkinson is still keen to keep some players around from the League Two success.
Mark Howard on Wrexham future
Goalkeeper Mark Howard is one such player.
Howard served as Wrexham’s number two last season, backing up Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo as he excelled at the STōK Cae Ras.
The experienced stopper may have hoped to step up as Wrexham’s first-choice goalkeeper after Ben Foster’s retirement.
Wrexham instead brought in Okonkwo and Howard made just 10 appearances this past season.
Wrexham have still made Howard an offer to stay with his contract expiring this summer – and he seems keen to sign it.
Speaking to The Leader, Howard has admitted that he wants to continue playing for Wrexham.
Now 37, Howard still believes that he has two or three years left in his career and has no plans to retire any time soon.
Howard has loved being a part of this Wrexham story despite having to drop into non-league football and he feels his Wrexham story isn’t over yet.
“Everyone knows about the club’s story but you ask any of the lads who joined the club in the National League, none of us wanted to drop down to that level,” said Howard. “We had all played a lot higher. But we wanted to be part of that journey.”
“To say we helped the club win one promotion and then another, we are history-makers. You can’t take that away from us. I wanted to join a progressive club, it’s been beyond my wildest expectations. At 37 I feel I have two or three more years left in me and I just want to continue this journey at Wrexham,” he added.
Phil Parkinson clearly a fan of Howard
Howard will almost certainly have at least one backer at Wrexham no matter what – Phil Parkinson.
Parkinson coached Howard at Bolton Wanderers and then reunited with him at Wrexham, showing real trust in the veteran stopper.
Howard’s comments suggest that he is ready to stay at Wrexham, even if it means serving as second-choice goalkeeper once again.
The experience and know-how provided by Howard will be vital as a sounding board for Wrexham stopper Luke McNicholas.
There is also a chance that Okonkwo comes back on a permanent basis with Wrexham ‘desperate’ to land the out-of-contract Arsenal talent.
If Okonkwo doesn’t sign, Wrexham will surely sign another stopper – and a goalkeeper of a similar profile would surely learn plenty from Howard.
Wrexham and Parkinson clearly want Howard to stay and he doesn’t want to leave, so we would expect a new deal to be secured fairly soon.
The post 'Beyond my wildest expectations': Out-of-contract Wrexham veteran comments on his future, offer on the table appeared first on The Wrexham Insider.