Wrexham AFC striker Paul Mullin has firmly put to rest speculation of a falling out with head coach Phil Parkinson, labeling the rumors as “nonsense” amid his recent absence from the teamâs matchday squads. The 30-year-old, a key figure in Wrexhamâs remarkable rise under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has been sidelined for eight of the clubâs last nine League One matches, sparking whispers of tension behind the scenes.
The rumors gained traction last week when former Wales and Norwich forward Iwan Roberts speculated on the BBCâs Feast of Football podcast about a potential rift between Mullin and Parkinson. Roberts pointed to Mullinâs reduced playing time, suggesting, âYou get the feeling, and you hear little rumors that thereâs been a falling out.â The chatter intensified online, with some fans even claiming Mullin had reached out to Reynolds and McElhenney to voice complaints about his situationâan accusation the striker swiftly debunked.
Taking to social media on Monday, Mullin issued a concise but defiant response: âNonsense.â The one-word rebuttal was enough to quash the escalating narrative, reaffirming his commitment to the club where he has become a fan favorite since joining in July 2021. With 110 goals to his name, Mullin has been instrumental in securing back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One, cementing his status as a Wrexham legend.
However, this season has been a different story for the prolific forward. Since the arrival of new signings Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez in the January transfer window, Mullin has found himself increasingly marginalized. Despite being fit, he has only made the bench once in recent weeks and was absent again for Wrexhamâs crucial 1-0 victory over promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers on Saturdayâa match sealed by a late goal from Smith. The competition for places has intensified with the likes of Steven Fletcher and Jack Marriott also preferred as attacking options, leaving Mullin and fellow striker Ollie Palmer on the fringes.
Parkinson, addressing the situation ahead of the Wycombe clash, emphasized the need for professionalism among his squad, regardless of selection. âWhether you play for two minutes, 92 minutes, or donât make the squad, everybodyâs got a part to play in terms of the way they train every day and the way they conduct themselves around the training ground,â he told BBC Sport Wales. The managerâs comments appeared to serve as a reminder to his players, including Mullin, amid the swirling speculation.
Despite his limited game time, Mullinâs response suggests he harbors no ill will toward Parkinson or the clubâs direction. Wrexham, currently third in League One, remain in contention for a third consecutive promotion, sitting just two points behind second-placed Wycombe with 12 games to go. The Red Dragonsâ depth in attackâbolstered by the January additionsâhas proven vital in their push for the Championship, even if it has come at the expense of their long-time talisman.