Captain Luke Young Admits Having ‘More Respect’ for Phil Parkinson After Wrexham Released Him Despite Bagging Promotion

It was a bittersweet farewell to the 2023/24 campaign for many at Wrexham AFC. As the Red Dragons celebrated their promotion to League One, the departure of several players, including a few stars, marked the end of their journey at STōK Cae Ras. Among the eight players released by the club was skipper Luke Young. However, the former leader of the Welsh club harbors no hard feelings towards Phil Parkinson, as he claims it was ‘probably the right time to be let go.’

Discussing during the Rob.Ryan.Red podcast, the midfielder finally broke the silence on his exit. “When I looked at the bigger picture, it was probably the right time to be let go. The gaffer was honest and said, ‘It’s probably time for you to move on.’ He was honest in saying that obviously, I’ll not play as much as I wanted to have this year.” Parkinson subtly informed Young that Wrexham was acquiring more players, making it ‘hard‘ for the Plymouth-born player to make the squad.

During the straightforward conversation with Parkinson, Young, who still has plenty of years left, was urged by the manager to find a place where he can become a regular and play 30-35 games. In fact, the 31-year-old praised the English tactician’s honesty. “I have that bit more respect for him, for telling me that they’re not going to offer me something rather than offering me another year,” added Young, who joined Wrexham for free from Torquay in 2018.

Having played over 246 games—the highest tally in his career—and notched 22 goals and 7 assists for the Red Dragons, Young seems to have swallowed the hard pill, even though it hasn’t been easy for a few. But the question stands: how far has Wrexham progressed in making recent additions?

Phil Parkinson might ignore fresh additions as Wrexham is yet to make its first signing

Despite numerous names being linked with Wrexham, Phil Parkinson is inclined towards patience, suggesting that the Red Dragons may not heavily pursue new signings. In an interview, he emphasized, “We have got a good core of players in the building already so we don’t need to jump in and sign players we don’t feel are right”.

The 56-year-old appears satisfied with the current roster and is wary of disrupting the team dynamic. Additionally, Parkinson hinted that any potential squad overhaul would likely involve sending ‘one or two lads’ out on loan, indicating a preference for equilibrium. Perhaps, instead of opting for temporary fixes, he aims to improve his existing roster.

But Wrexham shall consider adding what they feel is missing. For now, we shall take a moment to appreciate Luke Young’s understanding and nature. Till then, best wishes for his future endeavors.