National League preview as famous names look to deny big-spending Wrexham

The new National League season kicks off on Saturday with a large dollop of expectation heaped on Phil Parkinson and his Wrexham players.

Ever since the Dragons' were taken over by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney the onus has been on them to quickly end their stay in the fifth tier. Their initial arrival well past the midway point of the 2020-21 campaign didn't give them enough time to properly make a promotion push. But their near-miss last season, when they were beaten by eventual winners Grimsby in the semi-finals, will have hurt. Make no mistake, the owners do not intend on being a National League side beyond this season.

Parkinson has been given ample backing to strengthen and has used the funds wisely. His ability to entice established EFL players such as Elliot Lee and Anthony Forde to complement existing squad members such as Paul Mullin and Ben Tozer means they are justifiably bookies' odds-on favourites to be toasting title success next May.

And as if their squad wasn't already the strongest on paper out of all 24 clubs, another shot in the arm came when FIFA gave them dispensation to conduct transfers without being tied to window deadlines. As a Welsh club, they had previously been bound to strict deadlines as if they were an EFL side, but are now free to trade up until March like all other National League clubs.

"It feels like a new signing," Parkinson said this week. "It's as good as signing a big player because to be operating under different rules to the rest of the division is unheard of at any level of sport."

Parkinson knows anything other than promotion will be considered an epic failure, but he cut a relaxed figure this week: "The disappointment's happened and there's so much positivity in terms of what the club's trying to achieve on and off the pitch. As much as we'll take that on the chin, there was a real good feel about the club straight away from the start of pre-season."

The biggest threat to Wrexham, other than their own profligacy, is a swathe of fellow former Football League clubs.

Oldham and Scunthorpe United, both relegated last term amid farcical off-field problems, are the latest two arrivals but it is the Latics who look better placed to mount a promotion assault.

Frank Rothwell completed his takeover last month, bringing an end to the much-maligned reign of Abdallah Lemsagam. With John Sheridan staying at the helm, and some experienced campaigners on board, they could be part of the promotion conversation. As for the Iron, Keith Hill could have a struggle on his hands to take them straight back up

Those who fell just short last season in the play-offs should also be strong again this time around. Solihull Moors have lost Kyle Hudlin but will be determined to once again go under the radar. Notts County are always in the mix and have Luke Williams in charge after previous incumbent Ian Burchnall left for League One side Forest Green.

Paul Cook, with a full pre-season to drill his ideas into his players, will be confident of Chesterfield sustaining a push to restore their EFL status. Other sides are harder to judge or predict how they will do, and you can file Southend, Halifax and Boreham Wood in this particular folder.

Dorking Wanderers, at this level for the first time ever after promotion last season, are an intriguing prospect who could have ambitions greater than to just survive. York City are finally back on the up after five seasons in the sixth tier.

With a new stadium fully up and running, John Askey's side look primed for consolidation at the very least. Relegation worries could once again stalk the likes of Eastleigh, Aldershot and Wealdstone.