Wrexham's Parkinson issues response to pressure talk
· Yahoo Sports
Phil Parkinson says speculation surrounding his future at Wrexham is "part and parcel of being a manager" amid a report that he is under growing pressure at the club.
The Red Dragons surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to West Bromwich Albion at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night - a result that leaves Wrexham in 17th after 10 Championship games.
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In the aftermath of the loss to the Baggies, a Talksport report suggested Wrexham's slow start to the 2026-27 campaign is forcing the club's hierarchy to consider the possibility of making a managerial change.
But Parkinson - whose side are still one point better off than they were at the same stage last season - remains confident that his side can reach the play-offs this term.
"I think last year, people kind of stir up a bit of negativity, which is just part and parcel of being a manager," he said.
"We're just looking at the overall picture, we're one point ahead of where we were last year when we got ourselves going.
"We finished so close to the play-offs and I'm very confident that we'll be able to achieve that again this season.
"We've just had a disrupted start and of course when that happens criticism comes your way as a manager, it comes the players' way and everybody is under the spotlight.
"But that's just the nature of football. I think everybody can see on the outside that we've got a decent squad.
"I'm confident for me and the staff and the players to batten down the hatches, to concentrate on what we've got to do at the weekend, to get ourselves up and running again and we'll have a strong season."
Wrexham have managed just two wins in their 10 league games so far this season, with Parkinson's men drawing five and losing three of the other fixtures.
Following the defeat by West Brom, defender Dom Hyam raised concerns over the sloppy nature of the goals Wrexham conceded.
Parkinson said focusing on his own side was the most crucial requirement ahead of Wrexham's fixture with bottom side Preston North End in north Wales on Saturday (15:00 BST).
When asked about his key message to the squad this week, Parkinson responded: "An improvement in performance level in certain areas which we spoke about to the group today, particularly when we're 1-0 up in the game and we probably over commit trying to get that second goal.
"We got punished which was very frustrating. So we just spoke about areas in general which we want to see tomorrow, all of us together, the staff and the players in terms of can we tidy a few areas up."