A look at all the manager dismissals Phil Parkinson and Wrexham have seen go through while the Reds enter the playoff zone for the 1st time this season.
The principal proof of Wrexham’s Cinderella story in the Championship is their playoff zone ranking. Touted to be fighting a relegation battle before the campaign started, the club’s 6th position has caught many off guard.
While a fair share of Wrexham’s success goes to the players, Phil Parkinson’s efforts can’t be understated. Along with the on-field results, Parky has outlasted 10 Championship managers in an interesting proxy metric.
As per the Second Tier Podcast, Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson was ranked the worst gaffer going into the Championship 2025/26 season. Fast forward to now, Parky has steered Wrexham into the playoff zone, while seeing the 10th manager dismissal with Marti Cifuentes’ sacking.
Here’s a look at all of them with their dismissal date ranked from the latest departures to the oldest firings.
Marti Cifuentes:
The latest Championship dismissal, Marti Cifuentes, comes at the top of this list. Having joined Leicester in June 2025, Cifuentes was removed from the office after 31 games in charge.
With the Foxes muddling mid-table, the gaffer’s inconsistent displays lately aggravated his dismissal order. Though Phil Parkinson just took two points off him in 2 faceoffs despite deserving to take at least 4, he will be credited with playing a part in Cifuentes’s sacking.
Ryan Mason:
Next on this list is ex-West Brom boss Ryan Mason, who saw his last evening in the Baggies office on 6th January 2026. Interestingly, a defeat to Cifuentes’ Leicester proved to be his last one in the 27 games in charge of West Brom.
While West Brom’s dire position says otherwise, Mason got the better of Phil Parkinson when the two met on the 2nd matchday. With the new-in, Eric Ramsay’s staff, including Wrexham icon Dennis Lawrence, Parky and Wrexham have got a score to settle with West Brom when they meet next.
Gary Rowett:
Up next on this tally is former Oxford United boss Gary Rowett. Impressively, Rowett managed the most games(50) on this dismissal list after seeing out a year from when he took charge in December 2024.
The gaffer’s Wrexham meeting ended in a 0-1 defeat, playing a part in pushing Oxford into the relegation zone. Despite listening to his dismissal orders on 23 December 2025, Rowett remains in search of a new role.
Alan Sheehan:
Following Gary Rowett on this list comes former Swansea boss Alan Sheehan. Having taken charge as the caretaker initially, the Swans’ decision to permanently appoint Sheehan didn’t age well.
As a result of the club’s subpar performances, Sheehan was sacked on 11th November 2025, just after his 50th match, before he could face Wrexham and Parky. Like the previous managers, Sheehan remains out of role as he searches for a new gig.
Liam Manning:
Last year’s November proved to be a period of extreme job insecurity in the Championship. Another one who couldn’t make it past the month was ex-Norwich boss Liam Manning.
Despite appointing him just last summer, the Canaries parted ways with Manning just after 17 games. With Wrexham and Phil Parkinson handing the side a 3-2 comeback defeat, Manning’s Norwich couldn’t revert to winning ways ever again.
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As a result, Manning had to bid bye to his Canaries job and is currently enjoying his honeymoon phase at his new club, Huddersfield.
Will Still:
The next one on this list is another November victim in ex-Southampton boss Will Still. Like most other presentees here, Still was a summer signing too, who could just fare out an extremely brief spell of 16 games.
While the gaffer can take pride in defeating Parky on the opening matchday, he couldn’t carry the winning momentum forward. Credit to Southampton’s sub-par displays in a promotion expected season, Still was sacked on 2nd November 2025, and he remains out of a role.
Paulo Pezzolano:
Pezzolano’s case sums up Watford’s intricate relationship with their gaffers, as he was fired after accumulating 7 wins in his last 3 games in charge. Definitely one of the unluckiest sackings on this list, Paulo was removed as Watford made a move for fan-favourite boss Javi Gracia.
As a result, Pazzolano’s tenure lasted just 10 games with no faceoffs with Phil Parkinson involved. Currently, the South American boss enjoys a continental role by being in charge of Brazilian side Internacional.
Ruben Selles:
If Pezzolano’s spell at Watford ended quickly, Ruben Selles’ time at Sheffield United got over in a flash. Being brought in to lead the Blades to the promotion after a playoff final heartbreak, Selles massively underperformed and ended with 6 losses in the games he managed.
While Wrexham’s Boxing Day victory against the Blades would’ve been a cakewalk if Selles stood in charge, Parky and he never met. Fast forward to now, Ruben Selles is in charge of La Liga 2 side, Real Zaragoza.
Rob Edwards:
Next on the list comes the only boss to have exchanged a Championship role for a Premier League job. He’s Rob Edwards, who left Middlesbrough after handing in a departure request for a Wolves move.
Having shared points with Parkinson’s Wrexham on matchday 12, Edwards left Boro soon after. Though successful at Middlesbrough, Rob’s time at Wolves remains under scrutiny, with the club likely to go down by the end of the season.
Danny Rohl:
The final manager to end this tally is ex-Sheffield Wednesday incharge, Danny Rohl. Having grown tired of the club’s financial issues, Rohl left by mutual consent ahead of the 2025/26 Championship season.
Currently, high-flying in the Scottish Premiership with Rangers, Rohl would be thankful to have parted ways with the Owls. While his former club feels touted to end the season in negative points, Rohl is competing in Europe with Gers.
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