Parkinson on Spygate video after 'amazing' Saints win

Phil Parkinson says he is proud of the way Wrexham conducted themselves as a club during Southampton's Spygate scandal last season.

The Red Dragons ended the 2025-26 campaign in seventh place but held hopes of being included in the play-offs after the Saints were expelled from the final by the English Football League (EFL).

Ahead of the league meeting between the sides, Wrexham's co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took a light-hearted jab at Tonda Eckert's side in a 59-second video posted on social media.

In the clip, used to promote shirt sponsor Firefox, Deadpool star Reynolds says: "Today, for no particular reason, we want to talk about the importance of privacy."

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator Mac adds: "Specifically, how to prevent spies from seeing what you're doing."

Parkinson revealed he had seen the video prior to his side's 2-1 triumph over the Saints at the Racecourse Ground.

"It's a bit of humour and obviously I've seen it," said the Wrexham manager.

"Some people will find it humorous; obviously, people in Southampton are not going to.

"But listen, as everybody knows, we kept our counsel around that time because we were the team which missed out.

"We accepted the EFL decision with great dignity. It was tough at the time because we could have had as strong a case as anybody to be in those play-offs."

Ahead of his side's trip to north Wales, Eckert said of the video featuring Reynolds and Mac: "I've seen it last night and it doesn't change anything.

"You can imagine that the whole situation is not particularly funny for me, but I think that's all there is to say."

Southampton were kicked out of the play-off final and docked four points for the 2026-27 season after an intern was found observing semi-final opponents Middlesbrough in training.

It later emerged that similar incidents took place during Oxford United and Ipswich Town's training sessions earlier in the campaign.

The Championship contest between the sides at the Racecourse Ground appeared destined to end level after James Ward-Prowse cancelled out Kieffer Moore's first-half header.

But Keven Schlotterbeck turned Jacques Ekomie's cross into his own net in the 89th minute as Wrexham won at home for the first time this season.

Boss Parkinson received a rapturous welcome from the home fans before the contest following his side's emphatic 6-0 loss to West Ham United eight days earlier.

"It feels amazing. First of all, I'd like to thank our supporters," added Parkinson, a graduate of the Southampton academy.

"The way they got behind the team today was absolutely fantastic.

"The reception they gave me as I walked across the pitch before the game meant a lot, and I think our supporters have had tough times and they're used to bouncing back.

"They played their part today. I thought they were incredible and it was a proper atmosphere in the ground.

"That's what it's all about, the club, the supporters, the staff, the owners, the players, everybody's linked together, and you could feel that today."