WREXHAM face Wycombe Wanderers at The Racecourse on the opening day of the 2024-25 League One campaign and Tom O’Connor feels the winning mentality in the camp with serve the Reds well when they make the step up a division.

Phil Parkinson’s men finished runners-up in League Two last term, securing back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club’s history, and the Reds begin life at a higher level at home to the Chairboys on Saturday August 10.

Although Wrexham are back in the third tier for the first time since 2004-05, O’Connor will be back on familiar territory next season.

During his time with Southampton, the 25-year-old had two loan spells with Gillingham at that level and he was still playing in League One with Burton Albion when he joined Wrexham in January 2022.

Wrexham, under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are being tipped to continue the success story next season and while O’Connor acknowledges that the step-up won’t be easy when they come up against the likes of Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic, he believes having a winning habit at The Racecourse during two promotion campaigns with stand the players in good stead.

“I am back in League One, that was the aim when I signed two-a-half years ago,” said the Irishman, at home at centre-back or in midfield.

“It is nice to be back where I came from and I am looking forward to seeing how we get on.

“The last couple of seasons, we have been going out nearly every game expecting to win.

“The expectations are there so when you are used to winning, it breeds a winning mentality.

“Obviously it is going to be tougher in League One, there are some quality teams in the division.

“But having that winning habit over the last two years, hopefully we can use that to our advantage and bring a bit of that into League One.”

The first promotion arrived when Wrexham were crowned National League champions following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign.

MK Dons spoiled the party on the Reds’ return to the Football League when they won 5-3 on the opening day last season.

But Wrexham came good and O’Connor played his part in helping the Reds go straight up to League One, making 39 appearances in all competitions despite being ruled out for two months after fracturing a foot, and he is hoping for another run in the side in 2024-25.

“I played a lot last season,” added O’Connor, whose only goal came when he scored the winner as Wrexham beat arch rivals Shrewsbury Town in January’s FA Cup third round tie.

“Obviously the foot injury kept me out for a little bit but hopefully I can stay fit now.

“I felt good all last season so hopefully I can keep that going and play as many games as I can, and see where we end up.”