PHIL PARKINSON wants to compile a successful side that will give the Wrexham area a huge lift and make supporters proud.

The 53-year-old has been appointed first team manager of Wrexham on a 12-month rolling contract and will be at the helm for the Reds' 14th season in non-league.

Expectation levels have risen at The Racecourse since Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds completed their takeover and Parkinson said it is "clear" that securing a place in the Football League is the target in 2021-22.

But having experienced three promotions in a management career that has taken in six clubs prior to his arrival in north Wales, Parkinson is looking forward to the challenge and knows having a winning team can have a positive effect not just on the club but the wider community.

"A successful football team can have a huge impact on an area and my job is to produce that successful team to lift the area," said Parkinson.

"I have been at clubs before where I have achieved that and the whole community gets lifted by a team which the area can be proud of.

"That is my aim, to get a team on the pitch that Wrexham supporters and wider community can really identify with and be proud of.

“I know Wrexham is a real football town in terms of the great passion for the club.

"There is a determination to get right behind the team, I can sense that already. It will be great to be managing at this stadium with a lot of people in there right behind us."

Wrexham return for pre-season training this week and Parkinson is looking to start the process of adding new signings to the squad of players he has inherited ahead of the National League campaign starting on Saturday August 21.

"I am really looking forward to getting inside with the players," said Parkinson.

"Pre-season starts this week, but also working hard to recruit additional players because the squad needs a lot of work on it.

"But I am confident that over the next six to seven weeks, we can build a squad which is as strong as anything else in the league, which will give us a great chance of achieving the ultimate goal which is promotion."

Parkinson knows there are areas of the squad that need strengthening, with Wrexham short of centre-backs after captain Shaun Pearson turned down the offer of a new contract in favour of rejoining Grimsby and Fiacre Kelleher and Theo Vassell both released.

"I think there are some good players and I am pleased with the ones who have remained at the club," he added.

“The core of the players in the building are all going to play their part and I’m looking forward to meeting them all.

"There’s gaps in the squad, we know that, I think any supporter will be looking at that and they know where we need to fill those gaps.

"But we’re aware of that and we’re already working towards that."