Wrexham

After two seasons together at the bottom level, Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham were reunited – this time in the third tier – for a couple of seasons in the mid-1990s.

And now, after more than three decades, they are together again.

“Three Welsh teams in the Championship… it’s enormous for the country,” said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.

“There’s a mini-league going on [in Wales].”

Wrexham came out on top last season, finishing four places above Swansea in 11th.

Bookmakers make Parkinson’s men favourites to finish as Wales’ top club once more, with the Red Dragons tipped to push for a play-off place, Swansea in the middle of the pack and Cardiff among those with the longest promotion odds in the division.

Brian Barry-Murphy reckons his team are capable of surprising the doubters – though the Cardiff head coach brushed off questions about the fight to be Welsh football’s leading club before Monday’s mouthwatering curtain-raiser against Wrexham.

“We just want to do really well this season and try to get off to a good start on Monday,” he said.

Barry-Murphy was then reminded that when he took charge last summer, he described Cardiff as the biggest club in Wales.

“Cardiff feels like the biggest club in the world to me,” he said in response.

“When I’m here the energy from the supporters is incredible.

“Hopefully on Monday you’ll see an atmosphere that befits the stadium and the club and we’ll try to do our part by producing a performance that gives us a chance to win.”

Parkinson has added full-back Danny Imray and central midfielder Ben Whiteman to his ranks ahead of the trip to the Riverside Stadium.

Imray – who signed a four-year deal with Wrexham after leaving Crystal Palace – made his debut in the 1-0 pre-season loss to Sunderland on Sunday.

Midfielder Whiteman officially completed his move to north Wales from Preston North End on Tuesday night.

“I’m very pleased, two really good players,” Parkinson said of his newest recruits.

“Danny came out on the tour with us which was good for him.

“Ben’s just joined us this week, it’s been a bit of a crazy week for him to join because he hasn’t seen much of the lads, but he was training fully today.

“He’s a really experienced Championship player, he’s got great leadership qualities and I’m looking forward to working with him and Danny.”

Parkinson remains eager to further bolster his options before the 23:00 BST transfer deadline on Tuesday, 1 September.

And the experienced manager – who has guided Wrexham to three promotions since taking charge of the club in 2021 – believes his side still have plenty of work to do in the market.

“We feel we’re not where we need to be yet and we know that,” he added.

“We’re working, as ever, to make sure that the squad is as strong as it needs to be in what is going to be an incredibly competitive division.

“We’re under no illusions about that. We’ve got to make this squad so strong and we are working tirelessly to bring those extra players in to give everybody a boost.”

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has been determined to bolster his wing-back options following Issa Kabore’s return to parent club Manchester City after his loan spell at the Stok Cae Ras last term.

Imray is yet to make a senior appearance for Palace, although he has gained plenty of experience at first-team level elsewhere.

Imray was immediately loaned back to Chelmsford City after securing a permanent switch to Selhurst Park in 2021.

He made 43 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals, during a season-long loan spell with Bromley in 2024-25.

Imray then spent the opening half of the 2025-26 campaign on loan at League One side Blackpool before joining Championship West Brom in January.

He featured 17 times in all competitions for the Baggies, including in a 2-2 draw with Wrexham at The Hawthorns in April.

Having made 13 first-team signings last summer on the back of securing automatic promotion from League One, Parkinson will not be making wholesale changes to his squad before the 2026-27 campaign.

However, a goalkeeper, a centre-back, a central midfielder and a forward are all potential additions alongside Imray.