MARK HOWARD believes Wrexham have the potential to overtake Cardiff and Swansea as Wales’ biggest club.

Phil Parkinson's men will be playing in League One next term following another successful season.

Fresh from clinching the National League title following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign, Wrexham finished runners-up in League Two to secure back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club's history,

Back in the third tier for the first time in 19 years, Wrexham are only one division below Cardiff and Swansea who finished 12th and 14th respectively in the Championship.

Experienced goalkeeper Howard counts the Bluebirds and Swans among his former clubs and although Wrexham - backed by Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney - are still playing catch-up with the south Wales rivals, the 37-year-old says the Reds are heading in the right direction.

"Potentially we could overtake them," said Howard, who made 10 appearances this season and has been offered a new contract by Reds' boss Phil Parkinson.

"It would be a huge feat to do so with the history and tradition that Cardiff and Swansea, two of my former clubs, have. 

"To say we are chasing that sort of legacy is incredible in itself. Just look at where Wrexham have been for the last 15 years.

"We’ve had back to back promotions and now that people are starting to compare us to Cardiff or Swansea, clubs where I have been at and who have incredible fan bases, is amazing really. 

"We are still playing catch up with them but speaking as being part of Wrexham, it’s a really exciting journey that we are on."

Wrexham are being backed to continue the success story when the 2024-25 League One season kicks-off in August,

Birmingham, Reading and Charlton are among the clubs that Parkinson's men will come up against and although Howard is not getting carried away, the stopper sees no reason why the Reds can't be competitive and push for a play-off spot.

"The ambitions are to keep pushing on and progressing," added Howard.

"Going back to back to back is going to be very hard. We have to be realistic with our expectations. Of course we will push ourselves with our squad. 

"We will be looking at hopefully the top half of the table and the play-offs. 

"It will be a competitive division for sure. It’s another step up with some big teams and big fan bases next year. 

"Even the teams that came up from League Two with us will be strong next year. We will back ourselves to kick on as a club and see where it takes us.

"It was always going to be the case with the club now with its fame and popularity. I do see Wrexham actually going in with an even keel with some of those big teams. 

"As much as teams will want to take points off us and see us as a scalp, we will be desperate to take points off these big teams to prove our stature."

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