April 22 is a significant date in the recent history of Wrexham. On that day in 2008, they were relegated from League Two. On the same day this year, they marked their return from the wilderness by winning the National League title. 

For 5,478 days in between the two pivotal dates, the north Wales club went on a rollercoaster ride with 13 unsuccessful managers presiding over 14 failed seasons - and a close shave with bankruptcy. 

But 5,479 days after that fateful relegation in 2008, the town of Wrexham partied like it had never done before - Wrexham were back in the English Football League.

All it took to get out of a seemingly never-ending cycle of failure was the arrival of two Hollywood actors and their willingness to bankroll the project. The disappointment of defeat in the playoffs 12 months ago provided the drive to get the job done this time around. 

Step one has been completed, but for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the mission won’t be accomplished until the final destination has been reached. 

The stars have already arranged for their club to play Manchester United and Chelsea in pre-season matches in the United States, but only when these fixtures take place in the Premier League, will Wrexham's owners be truly satisfied.

Step two of Wrexham’s most ambitious project is getting out of League Two at the first attempt. So what chance do the Red Dragons have of securing back-to-back promotions? At Bookies.com, we have analyzed the performances of every promoted side to see how they have fared in their first season in League Two.

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Back-To-Back Titles Difficult To Achieve

Wrexham deserve a lot of credit for winning the National League last season, given the added pressure of having cameras follow them both on and off the pitch for the FX series, Welcome To Wrexham.

Next season will be much tougher as they will be playing with a target on their backs. Every player facing Wrexham will see it as an opportunity to shine and make a name for themselves.

History is also against the Racecourse Ground side in their attempt to secure back-to-back titles. Darlington were the last National League champions to carry their momentum all the way through the following season to pip Stockport County to the title by a single point 32 years ago. 

Wrexham are currently 7/2 on UK betting sites to finish next season as League Two champions. Two teams have won automatic promotion while a further two have been promoted via the playoffs in their first season back in the league.

Stockport, who won the National League title last season, could be the third side promoted via the playoffs. 

The Red Dragons are 1/1 to be promoted one way or another with UK bookies, despite the fact only five of the last 35 teams (14.2%) have won promotion to League One in their first season in the fourth tier of English football.

Wrexham Keen To Avoid Unwanted Record

Anything other than a second successive Wrexham promotion would be a relative failure. Since automatic promotion to the National League was guaranteed ahead of the 1986/87 season, no team has ever been relegated at the first attempt. 

Reynolds and McElhenney, having initially bought the club for $2.5 million and have invested heavily since, will not want to see their club be the first to make an immediate return to the National League. Wrexham can be backed at 50/1 to be relegated. Relegation would be a disaster and a massive backward step.

Three clubs have flirted with relegation following their promotion to League Two. Macclesfield entered the final round of fixtures in 2019 two points clear of Notts County. 

Defeat for Macclesfield and a win for County would have changed the course of history and would have seen Macclesfield become the first and only team relegated from League Two after winning the National League the season before. But they survived and County, who pushed Wrexham all the way this season, dropped out of the Football League.

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Can Wrexham Be First Team To Reach Premier League?

No team to have played in the National League has managed to work their way through the leagues to take their place in the Premier League. Luton could become the first if they can negotiate their way through this season's Championship playoffs.

If the Racecourse Ground project goes to plan, Wrexham could be in the Premier League as early as the 2026/27 campaign. The club’s recruitment will be geared towards that goal. Signing striker Paul Mullin from Cambridge United, who has already played and scored goals in League One, was the catalyst for their promotion last season, scoring 38 times in 46 games. 

Tentative public inquiries were made to lure Gareth Bale off the golf course, while Bale’s former Wales team-mate Hal Robson-Kanu has reportedly offered to come out of retirement to play for Wrexham next season with his salary going to charity.

Signing USA internationals will likely increase Wrexham's fanbase in the US, and they have been linked with 25-year-old defender Matt Olosunde, who is out of contract at Championship side Preston. 

Attracting players to join will likely be easy, as will affording them, as Wrexham go all out in their pursuit of Premier League football.

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