Wrexham fans are experiencing another push for promotion right now with a spot in League One up for grabs and the end of the season drawing ever closer.
Tuesday’s defeat at Doncaster Rovers was far from ideal but Wrexham are still in a great position to secure promotion from League Two.
Wrexham fans will have memories of promotion pushes from years gone by – both in positive and negative senses.
Last season saw Wrexham get over the line, securing automatic promotion after a simply stunning title fight with Notts County.
A year earlier, Wrexham were dumped out in the play-off semi-finals by Grimsby in a nerve-shredding 5-4 defeat.
Some will also think of the 2018-19 season, which saw Wrexham battle through some managerial chaos to secure a play-off spot.
Sam Ricketts took charge in the summer and won 13 of his 23 games before jumping ship to rivals Shrewsbury Town.
Assistant Graham Barrow stepped up and then stepped down, with Bryan Hughes then taking over and attempting to guide Wrexham to promotion.
That season ended with a play-off semi-final defeat to Eastleigh and Hughes ended up being sacked in September 2019 and hasn’t returned to management since.
Bryan Hughes on Wrexham transfer miss
Hughes was able to bring in the likes of Devonte Redmond, Adam Barton, JJ Hooper and Mark Harris in an attempt to go again.
Wrexham just couldn’t get going though and finished 20th in the National League, an enormous drop-off in a COVID-hit campaign.
Hughes has now spoken to The Athletic and has commented on a couple of high-profile signings he missed out on bringing to Wrexham.
Gabriel Agbonlahor was one option during the promotion chase, as was former Everton hitman Victor Anichebe.
Agbonlahor had been let go by Aston Villa in 2018 whilst Anichebe hadn’t played since a spell in China back in 2017.
Both would have been big-name signings as they came towards the end of their careers and Hughes thinks that their physical traits could have got Wrexham over the line – but it just wasn’t to be.
“I knew what we were lacking,” said Hughes. “A goalscorer. Our defensive record was strong, we had energy in midfield. I identified a few but, for whatever reason, we couldn’t get them over the line. Gabby Agbonlahor wouldn’t drop to the level. I also tried Victor Anichebe. We just needed someone physical enough for that league who, when they get a chance, will score,” he added.
League One striker snubbed Wrexham
Hughes didn’t just look at veteran strikers who were – with all due respect – past their best at the time.
The Liverpudlian also targeted a move for Devante Cole, who was with Wigan Athletic at the time.
Cole – the son of former Manchester United striker Andrew Cole – has already played for both Wigan and Burton Albion in that season, so couldn’t play for another EFL club.
That could have paved the way for a move to Wrexham but Cole didn’t fancy the move, leaving Hughes disappointed.
“Someone to come in and get us 10 goals. Then I do think we’d have won it. I actually spoke to Wigan about Devante Cole. Paul Cook was the manager at the time. I know him well,” said Hughes. “Cooky said we could have him, but Devante wouldn’t drop down. He couldn’t play for anyone else in the EFL that season, just the (under-)23s.”
“We spoke and he was great about it, saying how he appreciated us wanting him. His career has really pushed on since (Cole, son of former Manchester United forward Andy, is top scorer at Barnsley this season with 17 goals). He would have scored the goals we needed, I’m certain of that,” he added.
Cole is now shining at League One level, smashing 33 goals in his last two seasons at Barnsley.
Wrexham may well end up facing Cole and Barnsley in League One next term, but have to hope that somebody steps forward with the goals that Hughes and co lacked five years ago.
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