League Two record-breaker Paul Mullin makes astonishing move to non-league Wrexham

National League side Wrexham have shockingly announced the signing of Paul Mullin on a three-year deal.

The 26-year-old found the back of the net 32 times as he helped Cambridge United win promotion from League Two, but ultimately turned down a new contract offer from the club. Rumours linked him with numerous Championship and League One clubs, but Mullin ultimately decided to drop down to the fifth tier with Wrexham.

In many ways, this isn’t a surprise. While Charlton Athletic were arguably the favourites to sign the striker, it was well documented that he wanted to move back to the North West. A move to Wrexham brings the Merseyside-born striker much nearer to his home.

Of course, the Red Dragons have recently been taken over by Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The move brought international attention to the Welsh club, who’ve not played in the Football League since 2008. Their transfer and wage budget will understandably dwarf that of rival National League clubs, as well as many sides in the divisions above.

However, the move won’t bring guaranteed success to the Racecourse Ground. Before his incredible 2020/21 campaign, Mullin had failed to score more than nine goals in a single league season. The pressure will be on him to replicate his form from last season in order to fire Wrexham to promotion. Whether he can do that without the likes of Wes Hoolahan and Joe Ironside around him remains to be seen.

Mullin explained that a conversation with one of the club’s owners ultimately convinced him to drop down to the National League.

“The ambition of the Club attracted me here. Rob McElhenney gave me a call a couple of nights ago – at that time, I wasn’t too sure about making the move – but once he outlined the plans for the Club, and the plans for me in the future, it was something I really wanted to be a part of and something that just excited me that much that I had to come.

“He really sold the Club to me. What they have planned for the Club is magnificent and something I want to be a part of.”

The former Everton and Liverpool youth player has only played four games in non-league, all coming in a short loan spell with then Conference North side Vauxhall Motors in 2014. Following his departure from parent club Huddersfield that summer, he had a three year stint with Morecambe, scoring 25 goals in 122 matches.

A brief spell with Swindon preceded a move back to Merseyside with Tranmere Rovers. He went on to win the League Two playoff final in 2019, but failed to nail down a regular starting spot at Prenton Park. This prompted a loan move to Cambridge United, which was made permanent in the summer of 2020.

With non-league football starting later this season, Mullin will have around a month to get prepared for Wrexham’s opening fixture against Yeovil Town on August 21st.

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