STEP one has been completed and Wrexham will now aim to become the ninth team to make it back-to-back promotions after getting out of the National League.

Phil Parkinson’s men enjoyed a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign, clinching the title and return to the Football League following a 15-year absence.

The next target is getting out of League Two at the first attempt but what chance to the Reds have of making it another successful season in 2023-24?

Since automatic promotion to the Football League was introduced in 1987, and then another team went up via the play-offs from the 2002-3 campaign, eight clubs have achieved two consecutive promotions from the National League to League One.

Darlington (1989-1991), Wycombe Wanderers (1992-1994), Doncaster Rovers (2002-2004), Carlisle (2004-2006), Exeter (2007-2009), Stevenage (2009-2011), Crawley (2010-2012) and Bristol Rovers (2014-2016) jumped up two divisions in as many seasons.

Of those clubs, only Darlington were promoted as champions on both occasions - something that Wrexham could emulate!

The Reds are currently 7/2 to clinch the League Two title next season and evens to get promoted one way or another.

There is one thing that Wrexham will be keen to avoid. Since automatic promotion to League Two was guaranteed ahead of the 1986/87 campaign, no team has ever been relegated at the first attempt!

No side to have played in the National League managed to get to the Premier League until Luton Town achieved that feat by beating Coventry City in last season’s Championship play-off final.

The other boost is a financial one for the fans, who will spend less time on the road - and save a lot of money in the process.

The Red and White army travelled 7,794 miles following Phil Parkinson’s men who were crowned champions after clinching the National League title in April.

It’s a different story next term when Wrexham fans will notch up 5,870 miles - 1,924 miles less than they did in 2022-23!

Long journeys to far flung places such as Dover, Eastbourne, Maidstone and Bromley were a regular feature of the Reds’ non-league nightmare which lasted a decade-and-a-half.

Those treks were more bearable as Wrexham enjoyed a record-breaking campaign but supporters, travelling in big numbers all over the country, still clocked up the miles as 10 of the 23 away journeys were over 200 miles.

Away days at Woking, Aldershot Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Dorking Wanderers, Eastleigh, Yeovil Town, Southend United, Bromley, Maidstone United and Torquay United were all at least 400-mile round trips.

Torquay, where Wrexham fans enjoyed a party on the final day of the campaign having already secured automatic promotion, was the longest trek of the season at 504 miles there-and-back.

Only six away matches - Altrincham, Oldham Athletic, Halifax Town, Chesterfield, Solihull Moors and Notts County - took less than 100 miles to get to.

The closest fixture was at Altrincham, 45 miles away and a 90-mile round trip, but the figures are far more favourable next season in League Two.

Ten away games are under 100 miles so supporters will look forward to renewing acquaintances with Crewe Alexandra, Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County, Salford City, Walsall, Accrington Stanley, Bradford City, Notts County, Morecambe and Mansfield Town.

Crewe, a mere 29 miles from The Racecourse and just a 58-mile round trip, is the closest clash.

At the other end of the scale, only five matches - AFC Wimbledon, Sutton United, Crawley Town, Gillingham and Colchester United - are over 200 miles away.

Colchester, a 486-mile round trip, is the longest away day in what supporters will hope is another successful campaign.