This week’s Sportin Wales podcast was a Wrexham special as we welcomed former Wrexham manager Brian Flynn and broadcaster Bryn Law to the podcast.

Both were in high spirits, after Wrexham celebrated a second consecutive promotion and are looking ahead to life in League One next season, just two steps below the goal of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in the Premier League.

Our host Geraint Hardy asked the questions every Wrexham wants to know, who do we thank, how will they do next season and who will be joining the likes of Paul Mullin at Y Cae Ras next season?

“The best decision they’ve made in the last three years was appointing Phil Parkinson that’s without a shadow of a doubt,” said Brian Flynn.

“Him and their fantastic staff. Steve Parkin is a perfect number two, Aidan Davison the goalkeeping coach and Dave Jones as first team coach, who was born and bred in Gresford.

“I tried to get him to play for Wales while he was at Manchester United, his sister played netball for Wales and he thought he could play for England.

“He couldn’t play for Manchester United let alone England! But he’s part of that quadruple they’ve got behind the scenes which is so important in building the club and that’s what they’ve done.”

“The most important thing right from the outset is that Ryan and Rob admitted they know nothing about football,” Bryn Law added.

“That allowed them to go through a process of asking people who did know what they should do. They were advised well.

“At Bradford City Parkinson took a fourth division team to the League Cup final against Swansea which is an unprecedented achievement.

“But not just promotions, he kept Bolton up on the final day despite several issues around the club in the Championship.

“He’s probably cost a few club but it’s been money fantastically well spent.”

In terms of players for this season as always Mullin has received a lot of the plaudits, particularly in the run-in to promotion having scored nine goals in their last seven games and will hope for more goals against Stockport County on Saturday.

However, alongside Mullin, Flynn heaped praise on 21-year-old defender Max Cleworth who came through the academy and has shone this season.

“I’m delighted Max Cleworth has done well this season,” said Flynn.

“When I went back with Bryan Hughes for that short spell, he was coming through the youth team, and you could tell he had star quality.

“Max has been exceptional, he needs special recognition, he’s worth a lot of money and they could sell him of course but he’s a cornerstone of the Wrexham defence for the next three or four years at least.”

So how will Wrexham fair in League One next season and what do they need to succeed?

“If they’ve got a squad of 25 players now, 20 of them could easily play in League One, said Flynn.

“The next five players, Parkinson will be looking at strengthening the team, five new starters and then he’s got two teams basically he can put out for any game which are as strong as each other.

“They’ve nearly done it this year, they’ve also got players who are very adaptable and can play in multiple positions especially defensively.

“The future’s looking really really exciting still and more so than now.”

Wrexham fans are desperate to know who will be the players joining their heroes at Y Cae Ras, but Flynn remained coy on his inside knowledge.

“They did sign three stellar players who’ve proved to be absolutely vital,” said Flynn.

“Ollie Palmer, Paul Mullin and Elliott Lee, how many goals and assists have they had the last three seasons?

“I think they’ll do that again. I’m fairly certain they’re aware of the targets they’ve got and even players in the Premier League might consider coming and playing for Wrexham…”

“I can’t mention anything at the moment, but I do know something.”

Bryn Law added to Flynn’s comments: “If you look where they targeted to sign from when they were in the National League it was two divisions higher.”

“Two divisions higher now is the Premier League so if they are maintaining that level of ambition.

“One of the factors that may come to play is the numbers get bigger, so you are pushed harder if you want to bring a player down a division from a financial element.

“I got a text from Ryan Reynolds after the promotion saying ‘this isn’t over’, these are crazy times, I was chatting to Hugh Jackman during the first game of the season about why we looked a bit weak in midfield!”

Whoever Wrexham sign, it’s exciting times for the North Wales side as they go again and push towards the Championship.