Parky influence hailed by Wrexham executive director Ker

Leader Live

a day ago

Parkinson was appointed by co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as the Reds' manager in July 2021 and in his four years at the helm, he has led Wrexham to three promotions.
Speaking to Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman on The Sports Agents podcast, Wrexham executive director Ker said: 'He's been extraordinary and I think, again, people point to our success and there's, obviously, lots of debate about 'oh, have you thrown a lot of money? Have you done this, that and the other?'.
'I think the single greatest thing we did was hire Phil and say you're in charge.
'It's quite an old-fashioned way of doing things. We don't have a director of football.
'We don't have a head of data, a head of scouting, a head of this, that and the other. You're the manager. You're in charge.'
The Wrexham story is now a prominent one around the world, thanks to the success of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary.
Currently screening its fourth season, a further year has been commissioned when Wrexham take their place in the Championship, with viewers and fans being taken for more fly-on-the-wall peaks inside the changing room.
While viewers have got used to these behind-the-scenes views, Ker says that Parkinson also has his say on what is filmed for the documentary.
He added: 'He has complete carte blanche to turn them (cameras) away.
'But, also, he's come to understand, you know, I think at the start he was probably a little bit reluctant and you've seen the documentary.
'He has a long conversation with Rob, where I think Rob did impress upon him, you know, this is not like Sunderland 'Til I Die, because, actually, we control the cameras.
'So, you're not going to be made to look like a wally. You're not going to get egg on your face.
'We're not going to be intruding... and it's become this extraordinary situation where I think the relationship between Rob and Ryan and Phil, and our players, and dare I say myself and Rob and Ryan, and the players and Phil, we're all so, so close.
'It's a very stable environment. It's very rare, I think, for a manager to operate with as little peril as Phil has done over the last four years.
'There's, like, no point when we've had bad runs, where there's been anything approaching pressure.'