Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has asserted that his side will come back stronger after they missed out on the Championship play-offs on the final day of the season.

The north Walian side sat in sixth – the fourth play-off place – ahead of the last round of fixtures, but drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough, allowing Hull City to leapfrog them at the final hurdle.

Despite an early setback for Wrexham in the form of Tommy Conway’s close range finish, goals from Josh Windass and Sam Smith turned the game around before the end of the first half.

However, just as the Cae Ras faithful were thinking of their halftime pint, David Strelec equalised moments later to round off a frenetic opening half.

With the second half failing to match the former for drama, both Wrexham and Middlesbrough missed their promotion targets.

Hull City’s 2-1 victory over Norwich saw them climb into sixth, while Ipswich Town’s resounding 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers saw them clinch the second automatic promotion place ahead of Millwall, Southampton, and Middlesbrough.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on the potential of a fourth straight promotion, Wrexham secured their highest-ever league finish.

They also finished seven points above Swansea City, making them the highest placed Welsh side in the English Football League.

“In terms of what the lads have given us as a group, I don’t think we could have had much more,” Parkinson said.

“I think this squad together, as it stands, with a pre-season together will be even stronger next year.

“Of course we’ll always look to try and add to that to give ourselves an even better chance, but we’ll have a break now and we’ll come back and go again.”

Remarkably, this is Parkinson’s first season at Wrexham that as not ended in a promotion, but the former Bolton boss is certain that his side can go one better next season.

“The supporters have been brilliant with me and the staff ever since I’ve been here,” he added.

“We’ve all always got a determination to keep momentum going the right way.

“I think for our supporters, there’s so much to be positive about for the football club going forward. The new (Kop) stand, the academy, things are only just starting.

“We’ve moved forward really quickly as a team, but there’s so much work which is going ahead and going to make this club a really strong one for many years to come.”

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