Who are Wrexham AFC and why are they now being branded as a Money Club? They’re Wales’ oldest football club, the third oldest in the world, and they’ve never been higher than the Championship.
The term “Money Club” is often bandied around in a cynical fashion, to invalidate the achievements of high-spending clubs. However, it’s a phrase usually levelled at teams like Manchester City and PSG – not Wrexham.
Of course, expenditure in football is relative. A huge transfer for Wrexham is not the same thing as a huge transfer for, say, Liverpool.
But, look at a club like Salford, for example. They carry this label as well, following the takeover conducted by Gary Neville and the class of ’92. Despite this, they play their football in League Two.
Due to financial fair play rulings, depending on their position in the league, clubs can only commit to a certain amount of expenditure. Therefore, it is possible for a smaller club like Wrexham to also be a “Money Club”.
But how did these events transpire? How did Wrexham, a club marooned in the National League, become such a centre of attention? Let’s take a look.
How Wrexham Became A “Money Club”
New Owners at Wrexham AFC
Wrexham’s new owners need no introduction. They are Rob McElhenney, of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia fame and Ryan Reynolds, star of Deadpool, Detective Pikachu and many other Hollywood blockbusters.
They’re both established names in showbiz, but their knowledge of football is, by their own admission, minimal.
Their footballing acumen may be non-existent, but their business nouse certainly isn’t. Because of the fan owned status of Wrexham, no money was needed for them to assume ownership. They will, however, be investing large sums of money into the club regardless.
Moreover, they also have plans to film a documentary around their takeover and time at the club. Given the high-profile nature of their arrival, this seems to make sense. There’s a distinct sense of intrigue around the Racecourse Ground – more than there has been for some time.
Their involvement may seem sudden and strange, but financially, the deal appears to make sense for all parties involved.
What Are Their Plans for Wrexham AFC?
The duo have made their plans for Wrexham AFC clear – they want to take the Red Dragons to the Premier League.
McElhenney in particular seems to be infatuated by the club. He has drawn comparisons between it and his hometown, Philadelphia. He was drawn in by Wrexham’s working-class appeal, which reminded him of the City of Brotherly Love.
When a club assumes new ownership, it’s natural for its fans to speculate on the future. McElhenny and Reynolds have promised that the club will not be rebranded or moved elsewhere, to the relief of Wrexham fans.
They are planning to refurbish the Racecourse Ground, after the club regains full ownership of it. In truth, this is probably necessary. It’s not a poor stadium by any means, however given the duo’s ambitions, it will likely need a makeover.
While Wrexham’s ground is historic, it may not have the marketability of a more modern stadium. As sad as it is, sometimes, to make progress, you have to move on.
This being said, Wrexham’s attendances over the past few years rarely breached the 5,000 mark. If promotion is secured, then it may be time to begin thinking about an expansion.
On a short-term basis, their intentions for Wrexham this season seems simple – promotion. They’ve already made some serious signings. The Red Dragons have been marooned in the National League since 2008, but it seems not for much longer.
How Far Can Wrexham Go With Their New Money?
This summer, Wrexham have already made numerous eyebrow-raising signings, some for considerable amounts of money. The first of which was Liam McAlinden, who made 28 appearances last season for the promoted Morecambe.
Most notably, they have also signed last year’s League Two Player of the Season – Paul Mullin. Not only this, he was also League Two’s top goalscorer last season, finding the net an impressive 32 times.
He has left newly-promoted Cambridge to join Wrexham, dropping down two tiers in the process.
If anything, it speaks volumes about the project McElhenney and Reynolds are building. They have brought plenty of ambition to the North Wales club and frequently interact with its fanbase. This is a good sign – it indicates that they’re happy to be part of the club.
Compare this with the faceless businessmen of many top clubs; it’s both refreshing and endearing. If they remain interested in the club and continue to invest, Wrexham could easily become an established league side again.
McElhenny and Reynolds’ Premier League dreams aren’t impossible either. At this stage, it cannot be accurately predicted. Stranger things have happened – who would’ve expected Bournemouth to reach the Premier League 20 years ago?
There’s one question that remains – what does Bootlegger make of all this?
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