Wrexham

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Phil Parkinson hailed the work former director Humphrey Ker did in the local community following his decision to step down from the Wrexham board.

Ker, a comedy actor and writer by trade, introduced Wrexham owner Rob Mac to British football before the sitcom star linked up with Ryan Reynolds to buy the Red Dragons.

Parkinson, who worked alongside Ker for five seasons at Wrexham, says the 43-year-old's absence will be felt, and thanked him for his lesser-seen work.

"Humphrey is going to be missed because he is a great guy. He's been a very positive influence on everybody," said Parkinson.

"Not just with myself and the staff but with everybody in the club, and he has also impacted the local community.

"I think that is what Humphrey has specialised in: connecting the club with the local community.

"He has done a lot of good things, some of which probably don't get the publicity that a win on a Saturday does.

"But he has had plenty of wins with what he has done in the community, and I would like to thank him for all the support he has given the staff and the players over the past five years we have been working together."

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While Phil Parkinson will hope most of his Wrexham side are resting up before the return of the Championship, several of his squad have been in the thick of international action.

That includes Kieffer Moore and Danny Ward who have featured in both of Wales' Nations League games so far.

Moore started in the 2-0 defeat in Denmark having come off the bench in Portugal, while Ward - with injuries to Craig Bellamy's first-choice goalkeeper Karl Darlow - has played his first games since Wrexham's EFL Cup defeat at Middlesbrough before the Championship campaign kicked-off.

There have also been minutes for forward Bailey Cadamarteri, who has appeared for Jamaica in Concacaf Nations League games with Guatelmala and Honduras, with fixtures with El Salvador and Honduras once more to follow.

Issa Kabore has played both games for Burkina Faso in their African Cup of Nations qualifiers, with a friendly against World Cup finalists Argentina in Buenos Aires to follow next week.

Meanwhile, fellow wing-back Jacques Ekomie was unable to help Gabon upset Morocco in their opening qualifier, with a game against Niger to come.

Dom Hyam and Libby Cacace - who represented Wrexham with Scotland and New Zealand at this summer's World Cup - have not been involved with their national sides, the latter having not played this season because of injury.

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Humphrey Ker is stepping down as a director of Wrexham after five years with the north Wales club.

Ker, an actor and comedian, is credited with playing an important role in bring Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac – formerly McElhenney – to Wrexham in 2021.

He was Wrexham's executive director before leaving that post last year, and will leave the board completely as well as vacating his role as a trustee of the Wrexham AFC Foundation.

Wrexham said Key had been an "integral part" of their growth during his association with the club.

"Working for and representing Wrexham AFC and the wider town has been the greatest honour of my life," Ker told the club's website.

"The way the club has evolved and is now structured has made it progressively harder for me to make a positive contribution so, sad as I am to be leaving, I now feel watching from a distance is the right thing for me."

Ker, 43, was heavily involved in the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series, which has been viewed around the world.

He said earlier this year that the series had helped increase the popularity of football in the USA.

Co-chairmen Mac and Reynolds said: "Humphrey has been a key piece of the Wrexham story from day one and his kindness, humour and height will be missed but never forgotten."

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Phil Parkinson lauded the impact of Ben Sheaf following the midfielder's performance in Wrexham's win against Southampton.

The midfielder has been absent due to a combination of calf, knee and shoulder issues but made his first start since February against the Saints.

Speaking after the 2-1 victory, Parkinson revealed the coaching staff have been carefully planning Sheaf's route back to full match fitness over recent days.

"Ben Sheaf, I'm so pleased with him today," said Parkinson.

"We looked at the data, the medical team and the sports science team did a presentation about where he was physically and comparing to the last time he played his first full game against Norwich away.

"We felt it was comparable for 60-65 minutes and he showed what a class player he is."

Ollie Rathbone and Danny Imray were both absent from the matchday squad for the contest with Tonda Eckert's side.

Parkinson confirmed Rathbone is sidelined with an ankle issue while Imray was left out as a precautionary measure after his hamstring tightened up in midweek.

"Ollie, when he had the shot against Burnley, he landed awkwardly and damaged his ankle ligaments," said Parkinson.

"It's not serious but it was obviously enough to keep him out today.

"Danny, his hamstring tightened up in training."

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson hails his side's "gritty, determined performance" after their late 2-1 win over Southampton.

Read more: Wrexham earn last-gasp victory over Southampton

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Phil Parkinson says Wrexham's Championship contest with Southampton (15:00 BST) gives his side the opportunity to get "back on track" following their 6-0 loss to West Ham United last time out.

The Red Dragons had been in encouraging form prior to that emphatic defeat by the Hammers.

They come up against a Saints side that have claimed 14 of the 21 points on offer so far this season.

"It's a great opportunity for us to get ourselves back on track," said the Wrexham manager.

"Of course they're a good side, we've looked at the teams who've done well against them or better against them and the ones who've struggled.

"We're looking at ways where we can create opportunities but equally making sure we're tighter as a team and we can compact the pitch quicker and I'm confident we'll be able to do that."

West Ham had 19 shots, nine of which were on target, against Wrexham at the London Stadium eight days ago.

The hefty loss came after Wrexham had kept two clean sheets in their three games prior to the trip to the English capital.

And while frustrated to be on the receiving end of what was the club's heaviest league defeat in 22 years, Parkinson says one of Wrexham's key aims against Tonda Eckert's men is to rediscover their best defensive form.

"It's switching back quickly to what we've done for the majority of the games this season where we've restricted the opposition to not a great deal, particularly in those two clean sheets we got (against Millwall and Swansea City)," added Parkinson.

"It's the compactness, the togetherness of the team, out of possession; it's that buy-in which we've always had and accepting that, at times, good teams and good players are going to play through you.

"When that happens, we've got to respond and we've got to make sure we're ready to defend in key moments."

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Wrexham wing-back Issa Kabore has been included in Burkina Faso's squad for their upcoming international fixtures.

The Stallions kick off their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign against Benin on 25 September.

They round off the first international camp of the 2026-27 season against Central African Republic on 28 September.

Wing-back Kabore, who spent last season on loan at the Racecourse Ground, has featured five times in the Championship since joining Wrexham on a permanent deal from Manchester City in the summer.

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