Wrexham’s busy summer transfer window has sparked concern as they still need to offload players on big contracts, risking a bloated squad amid the EFL’s 25-man rule
Wrexham have been warned they could struggle to offload members of their bloated squad after signing six new players. The Red Dragons have had a busy summer after securing promotion from League One at the end of last season.
Manager Phil Parkinson has brought in Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie, Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward and Empoli defender Liberato Cacace as he gears up for life in the Championship. Bolton skipper George Thomason, Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien and Sheffield Wednesday forward Josh Windass have also arrived during the transfer window.
The Welsh side are now in talks to recruit Ipswich forward Nathan Broadhead for a club-record fee of £7.5million, thanks to the financial backing of club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Wrexham’s transfer business has left many of their rivals, including Birmingham investor Tom Brady, looking nervously over their shoulders.
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However, they have now been told they could face a problem as they strive to move on players who are surplus to requirements, with many tied to lucrative long-term contracts. Under EFL rules, teams can register up to 25 players, including goalkeepers, while under-21s are exempt.
Wrexham currently have 30 contracted senior players on their books. Former Wales striker Sam Vokes suggested they may find it challenging to trim those numbers after sounding a note of caution about the unintended consequences of their recent success, which has seen them achieve three consecutive promotions.
Speaking on the BBC’s Feast of Football podcast, the ex-Premier League player said: “It’s unlike anything we’ve seen in football before with the meteoric rise they’ve had over the last three years. A lot of those players [who joined] in the National League and in League Two would have signed two or three-year deals.
“Of course, Wrexham would have dreamt of getting to where they’re getting to, but they probably didn’t think they’d be keeping all of those players in the third year under a Championship contract.
“Now those players aren’t leaving anywhere, because even if they’re League One or League Two players, they aren’t getting that money anywhere else.”
There have been some exits at Wrexham this summer, with star striker Paul Mullin making a surprise move to Wigan on loan after being frozen out of the team during the second half of last season. Meanwhile, winger Luke Bolton has left for Mansfield, centre-back Will Boyle has joined Shrewsbury and goalkeeper Luke McNicholas has been snapped up by Forest Green, all on permanent deals.
But Vokes’ concerns were also echoed on the podcast by another former Wales international. Ex-Norwich striker Iwan Roberts said there was no incentive for players on high salaries to move on and potentially earn less elsewhere.
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“The brutal reality is that Wrexham were happy to give them those big contracts that they’re on,” he said. “Now, they may be surplus to requirements, and maybe the club thinks their future should be elsewhere. But there’s no reason why the lads should walk away from the type of wages that they’re earning at Wrexham.”
One player who could be set for a loan move away from the Racecourse Ground is left wing-back Jacob Mendy. The Gambia international only made four appearances in League One last season, with three of those coming off the bench.
Speaking to the BBC about Mendy’s future this week, Parkinson said: “Everybody knows the numbers situation is there. It’s a 25-man squad, including the goalkeepers. I’ve just spoken to Jacob Mendy about that. We need Jacob to go and play this season for himself.
“There’s a few players in that category. I’m just mentioning Jacob because I’ve just been speaking to him. There’s several clubs who want to take him on loan. One thing we’ve always tried to do is be fair to all the players because a lot of those lads have done so well for us.”
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