Parkinson hails Ryan and Rob as Wrexham continue to spend big

PHIL PARKINSON says Wrexham have been forced to spend heavily to compete in the Championship after smashing their transfer record to sign Nathan Broadhead.

- By PHIL BLANCHE

Wales striker Broadhead joined from Ipswich on Thursday in a reported deal worth up to £10million, although Parkinson quipped Wrexham would have “to get in the Premier League and win the Champions League” for the fee to reach that figure.

Broadhead became Wrexham’s ninth summer signing for a campaign which sees them playing in the second tier of English football just three seasons after being in the National League.

“The backing (from owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney) is key,” manager Parkinson said ahead of West Brom’s visit to the SToK Cae Ras this lunchtime - Wrexham’s first home game at this level since beating Rotherham 3-2 on May 15, 1982.

“There’s a lot of spending power in the division. Really since day one, because we've moved so quickly as a club, we've always had to work hard to fast-track the quality level to the first team.