Phil Parkinson has vowed that Wrexham will come back stronger next season after the club's remarkable Championship campaign ended in heartbreak on the final day.
The Red Dragons needed a win against Middlesbrough and results elsewhere to go their way to snatch a top-six spot, but a 2-2 draw at the Stok Cae Ras meant they fell just two points short of sixth-placed Hull City. Hull's 2-1 win over Norwich City sealed Wrexham's fate, leaving them in seventh place after their first season in the second tier in 43 years.
Despite the disappointment, there's plenty for the Welsh club to celebrate. This was Wrexham's highest-ever league finish, and they also ended the season as the best-performing Welsh side in the English Football League for the first time in a quarter of a century.
"In terms of what the lads have given us as a group, I don't think we could have had much more," Parkinson said. "I think this squad together, as it stands, with a pre-season together will be even stronger next year. Of course we'll always look to try and add to that to give ourselves an even better chance, but we'll have a break now and we'll come back and go again."
The final day was a rollercoaster of emotions at the Stok Cae Ras. Middlesbrough's Tommy Conway opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but Josh Windass levelled with a stunning free-kick. Sam Smith then headed Wrexham in front, only for David Strelec to equalize for Boro and dash their play-off dreams.
With updates from Hull's clash with Norwich and Derby County's loss to Sheffield United filtering through, Wrexham pushed hard for a winner in the closing stages but couldn't find the breakthrough.
Parkinson, who has masterminded the club's incredible rise from the National League, says the foundations are in place for sustained success. "The supporters have been brilliant with me and the staff ever since I've been here," he added. "We've all always got a determination to keep momentum going the right way. I think for our supporters, there's so much to be proud of."
For a club that was playing non-league football just a few years ago, finishing seventh in the Championship is a statement of intent. With a full pre-season ahead and the core of this squad still together, Wrexham fans can already start dreaming of what might be possible next time around.