Ryan Reynolds could give favourite player one last gift in emotional Wrexham exit
Paul Mullin has been a key player for Wrexham since joining from Cambridge United in 2021, but has fallen out of favour this season and could be set for a surprise exit
Wrexham might let their star forward Paul Mullin leave on a free transfer this summer in a surprising twist. The 30-year-old has been instrumental in the Welsh club's rise through the leagues, netting an impressive 110 goals since his arrival in July 2021.
Despite his prolific record, Mullin has struggled for game time this season, with only nine starts in League One and a modest tally of three goals following back surgery last year. His future at the club is uncertain after being left out of the team for much of the second half of the campaign, even though he's a favourite of Wrexham's celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The situation arose after manager Phil Parkinson strengthened his frontline by bringing in strikers Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez in the January window. With Wrexham's recent promotion to the Championship, reports have surfaced that they might be willing to release Mullin.
According to the ReluctantNicko Patreon site, the club may even forego any transfer fee due to Mullin's substantial wages, with Wigan Athletic reportedly interested in the striker. Mullin's contract at the Racecourse Ground runs until the summer of 2027, yet a free transfer could assist in facilitating his exit.
Speculation about a rift between Mullin and Parkinson grew due to the player's lack of match appearances, but Mullin dismissed such rumours as "nonsense" in a social media exchange with a supporter. Parkinson spoke candidly about the future of his players, including Mullin and strike partner Ollie Palmer, in a recent interview.
He told BBC Sport Wales: "First of all, everyone's made a contribution. What level that has been doesn't matter because everybody's been together and contributed.
Welcome to Wrexham is back on Disney+ for a fourth season. Fans can watch the series with a £4.99 monthly plan, or get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront.
"Of course, there's always players who would have liked to have played more. Equally, contributions can come in many forms, so I'm delighted with everybody as a group.
"Mulls and Ollie will always be legends at this club for what they've done. They're under contract next year and they'll be back in pre-season ready to go again."
Meanwhile, more details of Mullin's struggle with injury have surfaced in the Welcome to Wrexham documentary after a new series started last week. He shared his ordeal in the first episode, which could have seen him lose feeling in his left leg.
"For the last three years, I've always had this issue with my back," Mullin said. "It's a herniated disc, or slipped disc, and the cartilage was basically pressing on the nerve, so there were constant shooting pains down my legs.
"I could sprint but it always hurt. I sort of found a way to get on with it an just play with the pain. I was coping with it but then, going into the summer, it was hurting more than usual.
"I got it scanned during the end of May and the surgeon told me it had doubled in size and I was at risk of losing all feeling in my left leg if I carried on."
Wrexham have bid farewell to several players as Parkinson aims to bolster his squad. Last week, experienced forward Steven Fletcher was released in a move to build a competitive side for next season.
The club is reportedly eyeing some ambitious signings, with Fulham skipper Tom Cairney and Leicester frontman Jamie Vardy on their radar. In addition, Wrexham have confirmed plans to play three pre-season friendly matches in Australia and New Zealand in July.