WREXHAM have already shown they can handle the pressure and Ben Tozer is backing his team-mates to cope with the high expectations when the Reds begin life at a higher level.
Phil Parkinson’s side enjoyed a record-breaking 2022-23 National League campaign, clinching automatic promotion and return to the Football League following a 15-year absence.
Pushed all the way by Notts County in a thrilling title-race, Wrexham finished as champions with a best-ever 111 points haul and are now looking forward to the new League Two season which kicks-off on Saturday August 5, with the fixtures released tomorrow.
Bookmakers are backing Wrexham to continue climbing the divisions under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, with the Reds favourites to finish top of the fourth tier in 2023-24, but Tozer is not fazed after the players stepped up to the plate last season.
“I don’t think you can get much greater pressure than last season,” said the centre-back.
“Only one team goes straight up and we weren’t top the whole season.
“Even when we weren’t top, everyone expected us to be top and romp the league.
“It just comes with the territory and we should be used to it now, especially with all the media coverage around the club and stuff like that.
“It is just business as usual so let’s just crack on and work harder than anyone else in the league, and see where it takes us.
“If you do that, you have got a massive chance because we have got the quality in the squad.”
Wrexham will have an even better chance to clinch a second promotion in a row because three teams go straight up to League One compared to one automatic spot from non-league’s top-tier.
But despite finally returning to the Football League for the first time since 2008, Tozer says the players don’t think the hard work has been done and insists no-one is getting carried away.
“It looks like a tough league this year,” said the 33-year-old.
“We have got to back ourselves and we are used to having pressure on us.
“We will have that pressure on us again and it is down to us to keep doing the right things day in, day out, and not resting on your laurels and thinking we have cracked it because we absolutely haven’t.
“We have got to keep working hard.”
There will not be an influx of new signings at The Racecourse this summer, with Parkinson putting the emphasis on quality not quantity when it comes to recruitment.
With a strong squad already in place, Tozer wants Wrexham to build on last season’s success.
“It is just picking up where we left off, doing the things we were doing and building on that,” added Tozer.
“We have got great togetherness and we have got the core of the squad; the gaffer will improve a few positions or areas and it is integrating them quickly.
“It is just a case of working harder than anyone else in the league and if you do that, you have got a massive chance because we have got the quality in the squad.”
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