Phil Parkinson accuses Charlton boss Nathan Jones of showing lack of respect to Wrexham over the ‘circus’ comment made this week.
Jones said that he was braced for “circus” as his side get set to head to north Wales for the penultimate fixture of the regular League One season.
Wrexham, co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are hoping for a third consecutive promotion after a 2-1 victory over Blackpool.
Wrexham reclaimed second place, four points ahead of fourth-placed Charlton and two points ahead of Wycombe Wanderers, with two games left in the season.
Nathan Jones said to Sky Sports: “All we do is take a game as it comes.
“We are not looking at the play-offs, we are not looking at Burton at home on the final game.
“We’ll finish, we’ll debrief, we’ll breathe a little bit and then we’ll move forward with Wrexham.
“It’s a bumper game, we have to go to the circus and see what we can get.”
Nathan Jones on Wrexham: “We’ll have to go to the circus and see what we can get.”
— Tash Everitt (@natashaeveritt7) April 22, 2025
On Jones’ comments, Phil Parkinson responded, per LeaderLive: “It is a lack of respect to our owners, the team, the staff, the supporters and the heritage of Wrexham Football Club.
“But we will just concentrate on what we’ve got to do.”
On the win against Blackpool, which came after a 1-1 draw with lowly Bristol Rovers, Phil Parkinson added: “When we didn’t win on Friday, it was important that we followed up that draw with a win,” he added.
“Obviously we’re pleased with that. We won’t get carried away but we will look at what we did well and look to replicate it at the weekend.
“In the performance at Blackpool, you could see a freedom in our play and that’s what we want. If we play in that manner, we will have a great chance of getting the points.
“We are a good side as we have shown over the course of the season.
“Now it’s just getting everybody ready – physically, tactically and mentally – for what’s going to be a great game.”
Phil Parkinson’s reaction to Charlton boss Nathan Jones describing @Wrexham_AFC as a “circus” ahead of huge game between the sides at The Racecourse on Saturdayhttps://t.co/1jNi7Yj2Ly
— LeaderLive (@leaderlive) April 24, 2025
Wrexham play Charlton at 5:30pm on Saturday, with Wycombe’s game against 6th place Leyton Orient earlier that day at 12:30pm.
James McClean said, per LeaderLive on the upcoming game: “Obviously it helps knowing the situation before kick-off but regardless of the result, we still have to do our job.
“It doesn’t matter if they win, lose or draw, we have to win our game.
“That has to be the main focus, not how Wycombe get on.
“Hopefully at 5.30pm on Saturday, The Racecourse is absolutely bouncing and the players can feed off that energy, we go and do the business and we hopefully win the game.”
McClean on potentially securing promotion this weekend: “Hopefully, fingers crossed that’s the case.
“But at the minute it’s all talk because we have to go out there and put that thought into action and deliver.
“To play the way with we did and to come away with a win at Blackpool, obviously it’s put us back in a great position now but that’s all it is,” added the wing-back.
“But we’ve been there before and at this stage of season there’s twists and turns, and you can’t take that for granted.
“We’ve still got to do the job in hand.”
This is how fans reacted as Phil Parkinson accuses Nathan Jones of showing a lack of respect to Wrexham over the ‘circus’ comment…
@damnberry: You’ll get absolutely nothing because @EFL will do anything to have Wrexham go up
@NSq18: Will always love Nathan Jones
@andysharratt: Absolutely nothing against Charlton Athletic FC, but this bloke is about as dislikable as they come.
@yoonitedLEEDS: No fan of Wrexham or Charlton. Complete outsider looking in but why, when you are challenging, with a big game v Wrexham on the horizon, would you say this? Just like Wilder. Say stupid things that could fire the other team up. Just don’t get it @camchesie
@higginswxm93: Thanks for the team talk pal 👍
@GorjaneRoden: What a cheek! They’ll be the ones looking like clowns 🤡
@creights5: This could be direct bait to rile the players so Parky will need to tame this a little so that discipline is maintained on the pitch. As fans however……… fill ya boots
@capaled: Thought exactly this but no doubt Parky is professional enough not to allow this to effect the whole team and we just do our own thing and allow the football do the talking
@jayrad198900: Not that the players needed any extra motivation but he just provided them with plenty. Hes gonna look like an even bigger idiot at around 7:15pm on Saturday when they’ve lost and are out of the automatic contention!
@neilt1978: We deff shud stick some big top style curtains to the players tunnel for when they come out, along with some circus music 👌👌🎪🤹
@JonesSion: He should feel right at home then the clown.
@nathanccfc21: I wouldn’t wish it on him, but ah man what I’d do to have him in charge
@oliverCCFCrees: Vincent get that cheque book out and give whatever this man and Charlton wants
— Craig Jones 🏴 (@craigyjones17) April 22, 2025
Oops 🤣 pic.twitter.com/A2ZagkKSis
— Graham Maloney (@mallers01) April 22, 2025
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