Iwan Roberts says Phil Parkinson 'probably under pressure' after Wrexham's home defeat by Birmingham

Iwan Roberts said Phil Parkinson is "probably under pressure" as Wrexham manager after Friday night's 2-1 home defeat by Birmingham. The loss left Wrexham winless and without a clean sheet in four matches across all competitions in 2026-27.

Phil Parkinson has taken Wrexham from the National League to the Championship since his 2021 arrival. Parkinson himself bemoaned his side's defensive failings that contributed to Phil Neumann's brace for the Blues as "two of the softest goals" conceded in his reign.

Roberts told BBC Radio Wales: "I think he [Parkinson] is probably under pressure for the first time since he's been at Wrexham. "He's had some incredible success at the football club. I think he's quite stubborn in his way, in his tactics, he doesn't like to change, and I don't mind that because they have been so successful. "But I've said it too many times, when you're chasing a game, you're behind with 15, 20 minutes to go, he still persists with the back three, instead of maybe trying something different, going to a back four and getting another body further forward."

Roberts said defensive problems pre-date the current run, arguing: "The Achilles heel last season, and the reason they didn't get into the play-offs, is they had the sixth worst defensive record in that league and this is the scary statistic - at home, only bottom club Sheffield Wednesday conceded more goals than Wrexham."

On recruitment and squad planning, Roberts added: "Wrexham were the highest spenders last summer and I think there's only four clubs that have spent more this summer, and he's still on about bringing more players in," said Roberts.

Roberts warned about squad size, saying: "A squad of 33 players, I think that's too much. I think that in itself can cause you problems."