da cassino： Phil Parkinson speaks openly about the rivalry between Wrexham and Stockport County as the clubs climb the EFL ladder together.
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Wrexham & Stockport have become rivalsTwo title races in three seasonsParkinson explains how it will continueWHAT HAPPENED?
In addition to the relative geographic proximity – about 50 miles separate the working class towns – adding spice, Parkinson explained that the clubs are likely to be competing for the same players in the transfer window this summer as they each build a squad to be competitive in League One.
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This was the second time in three seasons that Wrexham and Stockport have battled for a league title. Back in 2021-22, when there was only one automatic promotion place out of the National League, it was the latter who were victorious as Wrexham fell in the play-offs. Stockport then ended up losing last season's League Two play-off final as Wrexham won the National League, serving to reunite them. It was predicted from the start of the campaign that they would go head-to-head once more, which proved to be the case. Both sealed automatic promotion on the same day, but Stockport got the last laugh by topping it off with the league title, despite losing at the Racecourse on the final day.
WHAT PARKINSON SAID
Via , Parkinson said: "There is an edge between us and Stockport after the year we had in the National League. We have been progressing together. Everyone has said they are ahead of us in terms of that progression. They’ve had longer in [League Two]. Also, they’ve had longer with their owners and longer to work on their infrastructure. But we are catching them quickly.
"Stockport are as ambitious as ourselves. We probably get a bit more publicity because of [], but I am sure we will be competing with them in the summer for players.
"This has happened in the past, and I’m sure it will happen again. We have to make sure we get our targets in position, but Stockport will be fighting hard to get those players as well."
DID YOU KNOW?
Rather like Wrexham with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Stockport have massively benefitted from new ownership in recent years after previously falling on hard times. The club was taken over by local businessman Mark Stott in 2020, a year after promotion out of the sixth tier National League North, leading to huge investments being made in infrastructure and two further promotions in quick succession.