When it comes to Wrexham most will come to the assumption that they are destined for great things. The money being invested is one thing, keeping it all together is another. Some have benefited far more than others. TV deals, huge Social Media followings, book deals, they have become the envy of many clubs.
Dean Saunders, the former Wales international striker, has kept a keen eye on the club as they have come to prominence in the last couple of years. Speaking to Instant Casino he had further insight as to the mechanics behind the Wrexham machine.
“I’ve heard there’s a big Welcome to Wrexham sign at LAX Airport. Paul Mullin is more famous in America than he is in Wrexham. It’s amazing!
“Wrexham have finally joined the Football League, which was the most important thing. I always thought that the club could go through the leagues and into the Championship – we’ve seen plenty of other teams do it. It looks like Wrexham will, too.”
This will not shock many of course, as it does indeed seem they will make it back-to-back promotions. That is unless the wheels fall off. Saunders addressed this too.
“I think Wrexham should take the season in four-game segments, and winning four in a row should be a target the players should aim for. But how they approach it is down to Phil Parkinson, I think he’s doing a great job.
“Wrexham look as though they’re getting there, and the gap between the top two and the playoff teams will start opening some more if recent results continue. Some of the teams in League Two are not as good as the teams in the National League, and it looks like a bit of a gap is opening up with Stockport, Wrexham, and Mansfield.
The target of getting into League One should also be on the players’ minds, but that’ll bring its challenges, like wage demands.”
This of course will be the next challenge. Rising the Football League comes at a price, and even though the club has its Hollywood backing, it will have to be careful balancing the books.
“There are League One teams with a £20 million budget! I don’t know what Wrexham’s is, but I’d guess that the average playing budget is £3 million in that league. A team with more than that has a chance of winning the league, only to face the likes of Burnley and Leicester in the Championship.
“If the target is the Championship, then Wrexham will have to keep their best players. Paul Mullin will be poached if he keeps scoring, and plenty of other clubs could double his wages.
“The club won’t be able to match what richer teams can offer, and that’s the biggest problem facing Wrexham as they sail through the leagues. They’ll also have agents who are looking for better deals for the players.”
Wrexham will have to take a leaf out of other teams’ books if they are to remain successful without breaking a winning formula. After all the game isn’t won by how much money you spend, it is the players that fit the system, and retain the core of a winning squad. To which Saunders continued. “Budgets aren’t always about buying players, they’re also about paying your best players what they deserve. Leicester lost Danny Drinkwater, N’Golo Kante, and Riyad Mahrez after winning the Premier League, for example.
“I think Wrexham’s target is the Championship. They can get there, but staying there is another matter. The two owners are savvy, though, as they have a successful club Tik-Tok, a famous documentary, and a lucrative sponsorship deal. They’ve done well.”
Writer’s View
Dean Saunders’ view of the Wrexham situation makes a lot of sense. The fact Wrexham now have a target on their backs is no fault of their own. The club was taken over legitimately, even if somewhat bizarrely by two actors that have proven they are not here for a quick piece of glory.
The next chapter is yet to be written in the story and the points and concerns raised are ones that fans of all clubs can relate to. Maybe even more so now with the high scrutiny of the way clubs are being run, and in some cases mismanaged.
