Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson feels the club needs to strengthen if they are to have a realistic chance of a historic third successive promotion.
After going straight through League Two following promotion from the National League in 2023, ambitious Wrexham ownership is now one step closer to the Championship.
The north Wales club have not played at this level for more than four decades.
However, no club has ever made a comparable leap in standard to such a high level in such a short space of time within the English system and with the likes of Birmingham and Bolton pre-season favorites for promotion, Parkinson feels that there is a lot of work ahead.
“At the moment we have a lot of work to do in terms of recruitment to make us competitive,” he told BBC Sport.
“Every season you have to start with the goal of being at the top. I talk to owners all the time about what I feel we need to be competitive. We’re not there yet. The squad is good, but we are going to a top league.”
Wrexham have signed five players, including Plymouth goalkeeper Callum Burton and Aston Villa left-back Seb Revan.
However, nine players have left since the end of last season and Parkinson has stressed to celebrity owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds the need to reinforce his squad.
Wrexham have been linked with a loan move for Tottenham youngster Will Lankshear, while striker Paul Mullin is absent from the club’s three-match tour of the United States with a back injury.
In a week in Los Angeles that included a red carpet event in Beverly Hills and ends with a meeting with Premier League side Bournemouth, Parkinson revealed the additional checks Wrexham need to carry out when deciding who to sign.
“I guess you never get used to it,” he said. “It’s unique to be a League One club in the EFL structure and to have that kind of exposure in America.
“We emphasize to all the guys we try to sign that it’s a completely different situation they’re coming into.
“We select and recruit really good lads who we think will be able to handle the external exposure and separate that from the real work, which is football and training properly and being ready for every game because last year every team was desperate to win the Wrexham and I’m sure this year will be the same.”
