JAMES JONES admits consolidation would not be a bad thing when Wrexham step up a level next season but he says the players will continue to aim high because there’s a winning mentality in the squad.

Phil Parkinson’s men clinched the National League title following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign and followed it up by finishing runners-up in League Two last term, securing a second promotion in a row for the first time in the club’s history.

Back in League One for the first time in 19 years, the Reds will come up against the likes of Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town this season.

It promises to be even tougher in the third tier and although Jones refuses to get carried away, the midfielder says it is the players’ nature to set their sights high and try to continue the success story.

“Not many teams can say they have won back-to-back promotions,” said Jones. “I don’t know if anyone has done it three times but that has got to be the aim.

“To the world it is probably going to be a case of just consolidate, find our feet and see how we get on but everyone in-house will be thinking ‘let’s see if we can do it’.

“There’s no point playing if you are not trying to get promoted.

“We have got that mentality in the group. We have got a group that are used to winning and enjoy winning so who knows where that momentum can take you.”

Jones played in League One for Lincoln City and Crewe before arriving at The Racecourse in August 2021.

The Imps lost 2-1 to Blackpool in the 2020-21 League One play-off final while a potential transfer to Preston North End was cancelled in August 2017 when Jones played for Alex, so he still hasn’t played in the Championship during his career.

“I have come close a couple of times,” said the 28-year-old. “I lost in the play-off final with Lincoln and a transfer fell through when I was at Crewe because of injury.

“It would be nice to get to the Championship, I have gone the long way around after dropping down to the National League but hopefully I can get higher and play in the Championship.”

A number of players who have helped Wrexham climb from National League, including first-team captain Luke Young and club captain Ben Tozer, have been released to make room for new signings.

Although disappointed to see former team-mates moves on, Jones accepts it is part of football and even more common at Wrexham who are aiming to continue the success story under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

“Players have gone that came in at a similar time as me and they will be missed,” he added.

“I think Ben Tozer signed a day or two after me and we roomed together. He was at Wrexham literally the whole time I have been here and he was a big character; he played a big part in the club’s success.

“It is sad to see players like him move on but I suppose that is the nature of football and especially Wrexham because it is not a normal club in many respects."