Can Wrexham boss Parkinson bounce back again?

Phil Parkinson has won 56.9% of his games as Wrexham manager [Getty Images] By his own admission, a 6-0 thrashing at West Ham was a low point for Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson during a managerial reign marked by so much success. The Red Dragons suffered their biggest defeat of Parkinson's tenure at the hands of the Hammers, leaving them 19th in the Championship after seven games. With a 3-0 victory at Millwall their only win of the campaign, some have questioned whether Parkinson has taken Wrexham as far as he can. It remains too early to draw a conclusion on that question, but in the eyes of Iwan Roberts, there was no doubt about the performance at West Ham. He told BBC Radio Wales Sport: "It was an absolutely awful night for Wrexham, although for the first 20 to 25 minutes, they looked hard to break down. "But once that first goal went in, there was only ever going to be one outcome. It was then a question of how many more West Ham would score." West Ham rout among 'lowest points' for Wrexham boss West Ham thrash Wrexham to top Championship Latest Wrexham news, analysis and fan views West Ham scored four times in the second half, including one less than two minutes after the restart, as Wrexham were torn apart. "If it was a boxing match, the coach would have thrown the towel in," Roberts added. "There was a lack of work, communication, organisation, a lack of players wanting to be brave in a difficult situation, and you can't accept that as football fans. "If there was a measuring tape of where Wrexham are against a team who have been in the Premier League for many, many years, this was it. "Sadly, they came up well short." Wrexham suffered their heaviest defeat since returning to the EFL at West Ham [Getty Images] Parkinson has been under pressure before during his Wrexham tenure, and even felt the heat when the Red Dragons made a slow start to life in the second tier last season. Wrexham won just five of their first 15 league games in 2025-26 - and drew six times - before eventually falling just short of the play-off places. Many pointed to that inconsistent start as the reason why Wales' oldest club ultimately finished two points away from a shot at promotion. After another summer with £30m spent in the transfer market, and two extra play-off spots up for grabs, the expectation is to go one better. Former Wrexham midfielder Waynne Phillips does not doubt there is pressure on Parkinson, but believes the 58-year-old manager can turn things around again. "I'm not surprised to see the reaction that comes after the game - this is how it has been for years around Wrexham," he told BBC Radio Cymru. "I remember in the National League, if Wrexham went a game or two without winning, everyone would want Phil Parkinson out. "But he's someone who can bounce back really well. He's been about long enough to know there will be difficult periods and difficult nights. "I don't think Parkinson will be worrying about the noise around him, but he will worry about what he saw on Friday night." Former Wales defender Danny Gabbidon echoed those sentiments, and believes Parkinson - the architect of so many promotions - should be afforded time. "Pressure will start to build if those terrible results continue, but it's still very early in the season," he said on BBC Radio Wales. "If you are slightly off it and not on your game, West Ham are capable of doing that to you. Phil Parkinson will hope it's a bad day at the office. "Sometimes when you get those results, it wakes everybody up. Wrexham have been so good for so long now. They've charged through the divisions. "There is no need to panic yet. We should allow the manager some time after he has been so good over the previous seasons, but you could sense his frustration after the game." The summer signings have been a hot topic among Wrexham commentators. While money was invested in the squad, only two players - Issa Kabore and Jacques Ekomie - have top-flight experience. Phillips, who made over 200 appearances for Wrexham, is not convinced that some of the recruits have upgraded the side. "It took a while last season for the new signings to settle, but up to now, I've not seen enough from the new players to believe they improve on what Wrexham had," he said. "But one win brings another very quickly, and suddenly confidence grows. I don't for a second think that these are not good footballers. "To come into a new club, it takes time sometimes. You're lucky if it happens from the first game. "The goalkeeper, Anthony Patterson, has done alright, even though he conceded six goals at West Ham, so there will be questions about him. "I haven't seen enough from Ben Whiteman in midfield to say that he's better than what they had last season. "Callum O'Hare hardly had a kick at West Ham. There is room for them to improve, but the same is true for those who were there last season." Wrexham will hope they can end the first block of Championship games on a high note by beating Southampton before the international break. The Red Dragons are yet to win at home this season, and were thumped 5-1 by Saints at the Racecourse last season. That heavy April defeat had been the only time Parkinson's Wrexham leaked five goals in a single league game since 2023, and they can ill afford a repeat.