I Believe He Will Really Bring “Impact” In Our Squad And Also He Is The Only…

I Believe He Will Really Bring “Impact” In Our Squad And Also He Is The Only…

Three ex-Wrexham players now working for League One rivals as former striker joins Bolton Wanderers staff

Wrexham are back in League One but Phil Parkinson may not want to hang around at this level for too long.

Wrexham continue to make rapid progress under Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.

Back-to-back promotions have landed Wrexham in League One and Reynolds has another promotion in his sights.

Phil Parkinson wouldn’t say it publicly but with Wrexham sitting second in the League One table, one eye may be on the Championship either this season or next.

Wrexham have a long way to go yet and will run into some rather familiar faces along the way.

Here are three former Wrexham players who are currently working with League One rivals having ended their playing days…

Brett Ormerod

Striker Ormerod joined Wrexham from Blackpool back in 2012, penning a two-year deal at the age of 35.

Previously a Premier League striker with Southampton, Ormerod chipped in with 12 goals in 74 league outings for Wrexham.

After turning out for Padiham and Bamber Bridge, Ormerod brought his playing days to an end and has featured as a pundit on BBC Radio Lancashire.

Ormerod is back in the game though having recently been hired as an assistant kit man at Bolton Wanderers.

Ormerod’s move sees him reunite with former Blackpool teammate Ian Evatt and he admitted that it was an offer he just couldn’t turn down.

“I met up with Evo and we had a good conversation. I knew if I didn’t take it now, then I might not get another like it, and it would’ve been a decision I regretted for the rest of my life,” said Ormerod whilst writing for the Blackpool Gazette.

This means Ormerod will be travelling with the Bolton squad when they face Wrexham at the STōK Cae Ras on March 1.

Kevin Russell

Another former Wrexham striker, Russell was a hero at the club in his playing days.

Russell was prolific in the late 1980’s, earning himself a move to Leicester City in the process.

Russell returned in 1995 and saw out his career as a Wrexham striker, albeit scoring just 23 times in 240 games.

With nearly 350 appearances across his two spells at Wrexham, ‘Rooster’ Russell was a real fan favourite.

Russell then become an assistant manager to Darren Ferguson at Peterborough United and Preston North End before heading to Stoke City and Cheltenham Town.

Now 57, Russell is part of Michael Duff’s coaching staff at Huddersfield Town and was sat on the bench with him at the STōK Cae Ras earlier this season.

Russell and Huddersfield are sitting fourth in League One right now and they could end up challenging Wrexham for promotion.

Brian Carey

Another Wrexham favourite, former defender Carey spent two loan spells with Wrexham before joining permanently from Leicester City in 1996.

Carey went on to rack up nearly 300 league appearances for Wrexham before becoming manager in 2007 having guided the club away from relegation against Boston United on the final day of the 2006-07 season.

Carey was made permanent boss after that interim spell but was replaced by Brian Little in November 2007, with Carey taking on other roles such as scout, coach and assistant manager up until 2011.

The Irishman started following Dean Saunders from club to club, joining Doncaster Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chesterfield alongside the Welshman.

After a spell as a coach at Blackburn Rovers, Carey moved into recruitment at Tottenham Hotspur in 2018 – and is now Head of Recruitment at Reading.

Carey has been charged with a difficult task given Reading’s off-field woes but did sign Charlie Savage in 2023, the son of boyhood Wrexham fan Robbie Savage.