TOM O’CONNOR feels team-mates who played their part in Wrexham’s success before moving on in the summer have left a lasting legacy at The Racecourse.

Fresh from clinching the National League title following a record-breaking 2022-23 campaign, Phil Parkinson’s men finished runners-up in League Two last term to secure back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club’s history.

Ahead of Wrexham’s first season back in League One for 19 years, the Reds’ boss released nine players to make room for new signings.

The likes of first team captain Luke Young, club captain Ben Tozer and centre-back Aaron Hayden helped Wrexham go straight up two years running before exiting The Racecourse and O’Connor says the part they played will never be forgotten.

“Lads come and go, you see that at every single club,” said O’Connor, a midfielder who is also at home playing in as the left-sided centre-back. “It is part and parcel of football.

“The lads who have gone are good players, they have put their stamp down and no-one will forget what they have done here at Wrexham with the two seasons we had but every club has different players in July.”

One player from last season who is back having signed a permanent deal is former on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.

O’Connor is delighted Parkinson has completed the permanent signing of Okonkwo, who made 40 appearances in all competitions last term and kept 16 clean sheets, with the 22-year-old named in the League Two Team of the Season along with team-mate Elliot Lee.

“I was delighted when I saw the news about Arthur. It took a while to get sorted,” said O’Connor.

“Everyone saw last season that he is quality and I thoroughly enjoyed playing in front of him. Arthur is a nice, calming influence and I am delighted to see him back because he is a great lad as well.”