The Wrexham manager, Phil Parkinson, said that he is still perplexed as to why he was required to serve a touchline ban and that he is awaiting clarification from the EFL.
The Red Dragons knew their manager would not be in the dugout as they took the field at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup fourth round. He received a suspension and was made to sit in the stands.
During a derby match against Welsh rivals Newport County, Parkinson received his third ticket of the year; however, he has not been told the reason for the caution. Regarding being pulled from the bench against Blackburn, he stated: “I am still awaiting an explanation as to what I was actually booked for against Newport, but I know that if I receive three bookings I would be suspended. However, this season, managers have been booked for celebrating goals, and receiving a yellow card is rather simple. It’s an intense game. Naturally, you should expect to receive a yellow card if you act disrespectfully toward officials and use inappropriate language, but we have seen yellow cards issued for completely innocent offenses. I’m relieved that the suspension is over and am excited to return to the touchline this weekend.”
Observing Wrexham’s most recent performance from a higher vantage point than the one he usually occupies, Parkinson continued, “It was different.” It was challenging because, while it’s exciting to be in the thick of things, being above the action offers a unique viewpoint on the game.
Wrexham’s hopes of winning the FA Cup were dashed after a 4-1 loss at Blackburn. They will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Salford, a League Two rival that is featured in a documentary series of its own and from which Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have been advised to learn valuable lessons.