Michael Williamson opens up on Wrexham response. Credit: @tenspromike Instagram
Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has opened up about how the club supported Phil Parkinson behind the scenes after the heavy 6-0 defeat to West Ham United, including a visit to training to back the manager in person.
That result at the London Stadium on September 11 was the biggest loss of Parkinson’s time in charge, and one that left plenty of questions in its wake.
Parkinson called it one of the lowest moments of his spell at Wrexham, but Williamson has since explained how the club’s senior staff responded in the aftermath.
Michael Williamson visited Wrexham training to back Phil Parkinson
Speaking to The Athletic, Williamson admitted he was left numb by the scale of the defeat, but was clear that one result wouldn’t define the club.
“I was numb. It was one of those where you’re just, ‘OK’. But West Ham was not going to define us.”
Rather than let the situation spiral, Williamson chose to make his backing clear.
Four days after the match, he visited the training ground to speak directly with Parkinson.
“I have a great relationship with Phil. I was at the training facility on the Tuesday, just to have a chat and show presence and support.”
There were no public statements from Wrexham about Parkinson’s future during the eight-day gap between the West Ham game and the next one against Southampton. But internally, the message of support was being delivered.
Steve Nickson played a key role in helping Wrexham move on
Sporting director Steve Nickson also played his part. Williamson revealed that Nickson and Parkinson took some time away from the training ground to talk things through.
“There’s also the advantage of having Steve Nickson around. Him and Phil went out for a pint together on the Sunday. Just to get it all out, two football people having that camaraderie.
“Having a moment to put that 6-0 defeat in the past and transition into a week leading up to the next match.”
It was an early example of the kind of relationship Wrexham hope to build between manager and sporting director, with Nickson brought in to work closely alongside Parkinson.
Williamson echoed that message in his programme notes ahead of the Southampton game, stressing that it was Wrexham’s response to setbacks that had always mattered most under both his and Parkinson’s leadership.
Wrexham responded the way Michael Williamson hoped they would
Eight days after the West Ham defeat, Wrexham’s response was clear. They beat Southampton 2-1 at the Racecourse, with an 89th-minute Keven Schlotterbeck own goal settling the contest.
Williamson said it was exactly the kind of reaction he expected from Parkinson and his squad.
“Parky is always able to get the right response out of the squad. And I expected that. We saw it on the pitch, which was fantastic.
“But, obviously, getting the winner was brilliant. That’s when you feel the magic is still there. Such a Wrexham ending.”
The result didn’t erase what happened at West Ham, but the way the club handled the aftermath, and the way the players responded, offered a telling insight into the support Parkinson had behind the scenes during a difficult week.
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