Wrexham must show they belong in the Championship – Nathan Broadhead will help them

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“F*** Hollywood, f*** Hollywood, f*** Hollywood…”

That was not quite the chorus Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney envisaged hearing after flying in to watch a Wrexham side bolstered by an unprecedented £20million ($27.1m) summer transfer spending spree.

That, though, was what the duo from Tinseltown endured on Saturday as their side lost 3-2 against West Bromwich Albion, with Wrexham’s first home game in the second tier for 43 years played out to the mocking jeers of 1,275 visiting fans.

Defeat was a reality check and an indication of what the promoted side are up against this season. The ruthlessness displayed by Ryan Mason’s West Brom was typical of the step up in class Wrexham face following promotion.

Bridging such a chasm is never easy. Eight of the 30 teams promoted to the Championship over the past decade have gone straight back down, with another seven lasting just two years before being relegated.

Wrexham have spent heavily in an attempt to avoid a similar fate. Nathan Broadhead is the latest new arrival in an initial £7.5million deal from Ipswich Town that obliterated the club’s transfer record last week.

Further additions are planned, as Parkinson made clear after admitting “the game was won and lost in both boxes”. The Wrexham manager was particularly unhappy with the goals his side shipped.

“We probably do need another couple of players,” said the 57-year-old. “We’re looking across the board (loan and permanent). That’s ongoing. It’s obviously busy for all clubs and all managers when preparing for games.

“I’ve been pleased with the lads we have brought in, how they’ve settled in. But we need to get ourselves going.”

Wrexham are pointless after two Championship fixtures (Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)

Kieffer Moore and Lewis O’Brien, signed for a combined £5m, have been the pick of nine new faces over the opening eight days of the season. Against West Brom, the pair produced tireless displays, Moore’s effective leading of the line underlining his ability at this level as O’Brien applied some midfield polish.

Josh Windass, too, caught the eye until forced out of the action after half an hour with a hamstring injury. He arrived on a free transfer after terminating his contract at troubled Sheffield Wednesday, but the wages of such a proven performer at this level will not have come cheap.

Broadhead, the most eye-catching arrival yet, did not enjoy the best of debuts after replacing Windass. Not only did he lose possession during the build-up to the visitors’ second goal, but he also shot wide early in the second half when well placed to put his team 2-1 up.

Still, the 27-year-old is the sort of stellar addition who, in time, can help Wrexham settle at this level.

That is why Parkinson was willing to be so patient to secure his man, the seeds for last week’s big-money move having been sown soon after promotion to the Championship was clinched in early May.

Recognising his side’s attacking armoury required a serious upgrade for the Championship, Parkinson identified Broadhead as a primary target. He liked the Wales international’s creative talents, especially how he was capable of conjuring something even when hemmed in by the opposition.

Contact was quickly made with Ipswich to test the water. Relegation from the Premier League meant a refresh was needed at Portman Road, so Wrexham’s initial advances received some encouragement.

This was enough for the Welsh club to lodge a bid that was subsequently rejected, but it put a marker in the sand, underlining Wrexham’s desire to re-sign a player who had been in their youth setup before Everton spirited him away at age 10.

Broadhead competes with West Brom’s Jayson Molumby on his Wrexham debut (Cody Froggatt/PA Images via Getty Images)

Talks continued through the summer, even during the two weeks Wrexham spent on tour in Australia and New Zealand as Parkinson, chief executive Michael Williamson and director Shaun Harvey hit the phones into the early hours.

It was made clear during these negotiations that, even if a fee could be agreed, the transfer would only go through once Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna was happy with the state of his squad.

Ipswich signed Chuba Akpom on loan from Ajax four days before Broadhead’s switch was completed, but McKenna did not simply require a direct replacement. He wanted sufficient depth to cope with the departure of a player who had played a big part in back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.

Only when that threshold was met did Ipswich give the green light to a deal that had largely been agreed in principle a fortnight earlier.

The protracted wait meant Broadhead had only had one training session with his new team-mates before facing West Brom. At times, it showed, with the understanding not quite there. He also struggled to get on the ball in areas to hurt West Brom frequently enough.

With no midweek game before Sheffield Wednesday visit the SToK Cae Ras on Saturday, Broadhead will be on the training pitch, looking to get up to speed and familiarise himself with his new team-mates.

The time spent in their company should be a big help, even if Windass’ hamstring injury means any hopes of a front-three comprising Broadhead, Windass and Moore will have to wait.

Wrexham’s defensive unit should also benefit from that extra time together — alongside, perhaps, a new face or two to bolster a team that has already conceded eight goals in three league and cup fixtures against Championship opposition.

The hope is that any signing aimed at bolstering the back line will boast the same pedigree as the forwards brought in. Achieve that, and Wrexham should be better equipped to bridge that gulf in class between League One and the Championship.

(Top photo: Cody Froggatt/PA Images via Getty Images)

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