Wrexham are one step away from the Premier League after three promotions in a row, but an advisor to Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac has cautioned them over the speed of their ascent
An advisor to Wrexham‘s Hollywood owners has cautioned them about the perils of climbing the football pyramid too rapidly. The Red Dragons have experienced a remarkable ascent since being taken over by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac in February 2020.
Boss Phil Parkinson has guided the club to three successive promotions, hauling them from the depths of the National League into the Championship. Wrexham’s co-owners are now merely one tier away from realising their ambition of reaching the Premier League.
However, former Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore, who offers strategic advice to the Welsh outfit’s board, has now issued a warning about leaping up the divisions too swiftly for the club’s infrastructure to keep up. Wrexham currently have a three-sided ground and a restricted capacity of approximately 10,000 this term, compared to over 12,000 last season.
Whilst construction is set to start imminently on a new 7,000-plus capacity stand at the Kop end of the Racecourse Ground, Moore suggested limited attendance figures could prove detrimental.
Speaking at the World Football Summit in Madrid on Wednesday, he said: “There is a risk [of growing too fast at Wrexham] in that you have to keep up financially and the stadium is too small. If you’re going to keep up economically, your gameday revenues are critical and a 12,000 capacity doesn’t cut it.”
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Moore was one of the first people approached by Reynolds and Mac after they took over Wrexham, with Mac personally visiting him in December 2020. After a three-year tenure as Liverpool’s CEO, during which time they clinched the Premier League title under Jurgen Klopp, he accepted an advisory role at Wrexham.
Wrexham’s plans for a new Kop stand have been in the works for several years but have encountered numerous obstacles. In response to soaring ticket demand following their promotion to the Football League, a temporary structure was erected in December 2023.
Following their takeover, Reynolds and Mac unveiled initial designs for a 5,500-seat stand, but this figure has since been increased following a significant redesign. The club recently began preparatory work on the project and anticipates that construction will be completed during the 2026/27 season.
The new stand will increase the Racecourse’s total capacity to 18,000, enabling Wrexham to host some Wales international matches. A large chunk of the funding for the project was delivered when Wrexham Council agreed to redirect a “substantial amount” of a £25million Welsh Government grant towards the scheme.
Wrexham AFC CEO Michael Williamson recently hailed the appointment of a contractor to begin work on the club’s stadium redevelopment.
He said: “[This] is a pivotal moment for the club, not only in delivering on a long-standing promise to our supporters but in unlocking the potential of the Racecourse Ground as a top-tier venue for domestic and international football.
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“The new Kop Stand will be the heart of the reimagined stadium – increasing capacity, enhancing the experience for fans, and anchoring our place in our home city and as part of the wider Gateway partnership regeneration plans.”
Further plans for the stadium’s redevelopment are expected to be announced in due course. Meanwhile, a mural honouring Wrexham legend Joey Jones has been unveiled at the Turf pub, situated on the corner of the ground.
The former Wales and Liverpool player died in July aged 70, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans and former team-mates. The artwork, which shows Jones performing his iconic clenched-fist salute, was funded by a supporter-led fundraiser.
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