Supercomputer gives shock verdict on Wrexham's chances in League One next season

A supercomputer has given a shock verdict on Wrexham's chances in League One this season.

The Red Dragons have earned consecutive promotions from the National League to the third tier of English football under the management of Phil Parkinson.

Wrexham haven't competed in League One since the 2004/05 season, although the division has changed considerably since then.

Bolton, Charlton and Birmingham were all Premier League sides during that campaign, while Wigan were promoted from the Championship in 2005. Reading followed them a year later.

In the years that followed their own relegation to the fourth tier in 2005, Wrexham then effectively became stranded in non-league, and appeared likely to suffer a shock relegation to the National League North before COVID-19 curtailed the 2019/20 season.

The ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has revitalised the club, and they have invested heavily in the playing squad over recent years.

This summer, Wrexham have already completed the free transfer acquisitions of ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and midfielder George Dobson, while they have signed defender Seb Revan from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee.

Former Plymouth defender Dan Scarr, meanwhile, brings with him plenty of League One experience, while defender Lewis Brunt arrives from Leicester.

Given their significant wage budget and the standard of new additions, some fans expect Wrexham to at least compete for the top half of the table.

But the Opta Analyst supercomputer, which runs through 10,000 simulations of the League One season and then orders the final table by finishing position probabilities, has Wrexham down in 20th place - based on what the division looks like now.

Opta Analyst

Such a scenario would see the Red Dragons avoid relegation by just one place, with the supercomputer believing they have a 37 per cent chance of going straight back down to League Two.

The supercomputer does give Wrexham a 0.6 per cent of reaching the play-offs, with a highest predicted position of fourth.

Their most likely finishing position by probability, though, is 21st (10.2 per cent) - meaning the Red Dragons will be out to prove those predictions wrong during the upcoming season.