Five Key Takeaways From Wrexham's Eye-Opening Preseason Opener

Wrexham opened their preseason schedule with a goalless stalemate against Wisła Kraków on Saturday.

The Red Dragons made the journey to Poland to help mark Wisła's 120th anniversary, with close to 1,500 Wrexham fans travelling for the celebrations.

Phil Parkinson used the game mainly to develop fitness levels and assess his squad, handing 22 players game time throughout the match. Tougher challenges await, with four friendlies against Premier League sides scheduled before Wrexham return to competitive fixtures next month.

With that in mind, here are five takeaways from the stalemate in Kraków.

January Signings Make Up for Lost Time

Wrexham's January transfer activity was considered something of a letdown after the club invested roughly $6 million in Zak Vyner, Davis Keillor-Dunn, and Bailey Cadamarteri during their promotion push. Vyner was the only one of the three to start a league game, while Keillor-Dunn managed just 117 league minutes and Cadamarteri a mere 46.

It left many fans questioning the rationale behind signing them if they weren't going to compete for regular starting spots. Parkinson maintained their arrivals boosted competition and enabled other players to depart, and against Wisła Kraków, supporters finally got a taste of what each player can bring.

Vyner impressed in his natural centre-back position after spending time in midfield the previous season, while Keillor-Dunn and Cadamarteri both caught the eye with lively displays in advanced midfield roles.

Vyner already appears set to play a significant part this season, while the attacking duo demonstrated they can offer useful depth—even if much of their early playing time comes from the substitutes' bench.

Parkinson Experiments With Positions

Preseason is the perfect time to trial new ideas, and Parkinson took full advantage by experimenting with a number of players.

Cadamarteri, primarily a striker, was deployed as an attacking midfielder and looked at ease in the role, though it is unlikely to become a permanent position given the competition he faces.

The more fascinating tactical tweak came in midfield, where Ollie Rathbone was stationed deeper than his usual position. Rather than his familiar box-to-box duties, the fan favourite operated in a holding midfield role.

Wrexham require more cover behind Ben Sheaf and Matty James this season, and while the club could still address that need in the transfer market, Rathbone may already represent a ready-made solution from within.

The 29-year-old covered a lot of ground, distributed the ball intelligently and appeared comfortable orchestrating play from deeper positions. It will be fascinating to see whether Parkinson persists with the experiment throughout the rest of preseason.

Academy Prospect Gets His Opportunity

Wrexham brought several academy players on the trip, but only one earned time on the pitch.

Alex Moore, who has been at the club since the age of eight, was named the Bob Clark Academy Player of the Year in 2025 and thoroughly merited his chance at senior level.

Though naturally a central midfielder, Moore has regularly featured at left back and impressed after being introduced to play the full second half at left wingback. Equally valuable as his display was the experience of being part of a senior Wrexham matchday in front of a large and passionate crowd.

Moore has already been linked with another loan spell after catching the eye at Colwyn Bay earlier this year, but his latest involvement suggests the club regards him as a player with genuine long-term prospects.

A Farewell to a Wrexham Favorite?

Wrexham's meteoric rise has made emotional exits a familiar occurrence, but that doesn't make them any less difficult to process.

With supporters still adjusting to the departures of club icon Paul Mullin and fellow three-time promotion winner Tom O'Connor, it felt as though Elliot Lee may also have bid farewell in Kraków.

The 31-year-old was an unexpected inclusion in the travelling party and entered the fray at halftime in what could turn out to be his final outing for the club.

Lee was cheered throughout the second half by the travelling faithful and appeared visibly moved at the final whistle as his chant rang around the ground. While it seems increasingly apparent that he no longer features in Wrexham's future plans, it was a touching moment for a player who has contributed so much to the club's recent achievements.

The only regret was that Mullin never had the chance to experience a similar send-off.

On the Way Out?

If Lee's appearance felt like a goodbye, Ryan Hardie's non-appearance may have been equally revealing.

The 29-year-old became Wrexham's first acquisition following their promotion to the Championship a year ago, but after featuring in only 10 matches, he was sent out on loan in January.

Hardie made the trip to Kraków with the squad but never came off the bench despite Parkinson making sweeping changes at the interval. On a day when players such as Lee, Ryan Barnett and Conor Coady all featured despite uncertain futures, Hardie's exclusion felt particularly noteworthy.

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He currently finds himself behind Kieffer Moore and Sam Smith in the striking pecking order, while Cadamarteri, Keillor-Dunn, Josh Windass and Nathan Broadhead all provide further competition in attacking areas.

With Wrexham also anticipated to bring in another forward before the transfer window shuts, it increasingly feels as though Hardie's stint at the Racecourse Ground is drawing to a close.