phil parkinson

Phil Parkinson, manager of Wrexham AFC, was in the news on August 17, 2026, as his team played their first league game of the 2026/27 season against Cardiff City. The match, an EFL Championship fixture, resulted in a 1-1 draw. This game followed Wrexham's return from a US Tour, which Parkinson had previously described as a crucial part of the team's pre-season preparation. Despite having a pre-season together with the current squad, Wrexham experienced a challenging start to the Championship season, suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Birmingham City on August 29, 2026. Following the loss to Birmingham, Parkinson openly criticized his team's defensive performance, calling it "unacceptable."