Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham job at risk as replacements discussed including Steven Gerrard

Phil Parkinson is under growing pressure at Wrexham, talkSPORT understands. Wrexham are 18th in the Championship following a 1-0 loss at Sheffield United on Friday. They now face back-to-back home games against Middlesbrough and Wolves before the international break. Wrexham ‘s ambitious owners set a target of promotion this season and yet Wrexham are currently eight points off the playoffs and only five clear of the bottom three. However, Parkinson has built up tremendous stock after guiding Wrexham from the National League to the Championship. That makes changing manager a difficult decision for Wrexham owners, who have huge respect for Parkinson on and off the field.  Sources say owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney essentially promised Parkinson a job for life. Yet new sporting director Steve Nickson has been brought in to look at things more dispassionately. CEO Michael Williamson and director Shaun Harvey will also have a say. Reynolds could attend the game against Wolves, according to sources at the club. Parkinson is not expected to be sacked rather than given a send-off, if an exit is determined. He has been given time this season to try and turn form around, but back-to-back losses against Sheffield United and Blackburn have forced Wrexham to succession plan for what would be an emotional and begrudging change. talkSPORT understands Steven Gerrard is open to the role and is likely to be a candidate. Rob Edwards, Steve Cooper and Carlos Corberan have all been discussed internally. Former West Brom boss Corberan had the option of going to Burnley, but talkSPORT understands he is currently focused on a switch to the Premier League. Scott Parker was another name appreciated, but he is set to join West Ham following the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo. Whatever decision is made, Wrexham want to respect Parkinson, and the fantastic job he’s done to date. That’s why if he does go in the coming days, the club are expected to plan a farewell, and one billed as mutual and amicable. What has Phil Parkinson said? Speaking to the media before Wrexham’s clash with Boro, Parkinson said: “It was the same last year when we brought a lot of new players in and we were trying to formulate a group. “We were patchy and we worked with the group, an understanding of what it meant to play for the club – how much teams want to beat us, how much all the opposition supporters want to beat us and what it takes to wear that shirt. “And then we got it and we went on a great run and we nearly got it in the play-offs. We were a goal away from getting in the play-offs, we had a very good season for our first season in the Championship and we’ve got to get that level with this group. “It’s probably as big an achievement last year as getting promotion in the other years, coming seventh in the Championship. “Of course, we all know that the second season in the division, there’s all that about the momentum was with us and there’s a possibility that’s a factor. “But we are in a similar position to last year. Now my job and the rest of the staff’s job is to understand as a group that we have to turn up every week and if we don’t win, the performance is at a level where the manager and the opposition say, ‘you were difficult to play against tonight’.”