PHIL PARKINSON has explained his decision to release 11 players ahead of Wrexham’s first season in the Football League since 2008.

Ryan Austin, Kai Calderbank-Park, Malik Dijksteel, Reece Hall-Johnson, Jake Hyde, Harry Lennon, Rory Watson, Tom Jenkins, Dan Jones, Louis Lloyd and Will Mountfield have not been offered new deals by Reds’ boss Parkinson.

Out-of-favour striker Hyde spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Southend United while wing-back Hall-Johnson missed the start of the season through injury and only made two league appearances as the Reds clinched the National League title.

“Jake wasn’t with us this season and his contract is up so it is time for him to find another club,” said Parkinson.

“Reece is the same. He has been a good pro around the training ground all season, always conducted himself well, but he wants to go somewhere where he has got more chance of playing.

“We wish them both all the best.”

A succession of injuries, which restricted Lennon to one league appearance this season, has led to the centre-back confirming that he intends to retire from playing.

“It is a real shame for Harry,” said Parkinson.

“One injury too many has just caught up with him and he’s taken the decision to retire from football.

“Harry is a really good lad and we wish him all the best.”

Watson and Calderbank-Park were brought in to bolster Parkinson’s goalkeeping options but neither featured for the first-team.

“Rory and Kai have maintained their standards on the training pitch throughout the season but the time is right for both of them to try and be a number one keeper somewhere else,” said Parkinson.

Austin, Dijksteel, Jenkins, Jones, Lloyd and Mountfield, some of the younger players in the squad, are also looking for a new club.

“We looked at it and if we didn’t feel those lads would be pushing towards the first team squad then it was right for them to move on for their own careers,” said the Reds’ boss.

“When you get to 19 or 20, you have got to start knocking on the door of someone’s first team.”

An offer of a new contract will be made to utility player Liam McAlinden and discussions will take place with Ben Foster to establish if the goalkeeper intends to continue playing or return to retirement.

Wrexham will exercise the option to extend the contracts of Scott Butler and Aaron James while Mark Howard, Anthony Forde and Paul Mullin have had their contracts extended by a further season following Wrexham’s promotion to League Two.

A decision as to whether Kai Evans, who suffered a stress fracture of the back, will be offered a new deal will be deferred until he is fit to return to training, while Owen Cushion has been offered his first professional deal.