Wrexham Director: League One Promotion “Gives Our Story Credibility”

Wrexham AFC Director Shaun Harvey says the club’s consecutive promotions is proof the investment from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney is more than a ‘novelty act.’

[@LOSTshowfan]

Great to hear from Shaun. He's one of Wrexham's biggest assets. Thanks for the interview.

[@MichaelLoRe]

He’s had success across multiple tiers of the pyramid so it’s no surprise he knows what he’s doing, does it well and is an invaluable asset to the club. I could have talked to him for at least an hour!

[@brucemcfarling6594]

I would suggest that the gap between the average strength in the bottom half of the table in the Championship and the top half means that there are two steps between where Wrexham is now and the EPL. However, one thing that may take time to sink in with those of us in the US based audience is that "getting to the Premier League" is not necessarily the same as "building a club like Man City or Chelsea or Arsenal or Man Utd" ... it can mean building a strong Championship club which has the occasional foray into the EPL.

[@MichaelLoRe]

Exactly. One step at a time!

[@interstellarbeatteller9306]

The revenue streams they're creating means Wrexham can compete in all divisions, but the main challenges they face will be picking the correct managers & non-playing staff, and organizing the club structure/youth academy. Clubs can spend 70% of revenue on wages, so Wrexham can already pay better wages than some championship clubs!...but as we know, a few bad signings and that extra budget is down the pan!

[@attrezzopox]

I’d bet everything that they’re going to struggle a bit in league 1. But if they don’t get relegated they’ll restructure and get set up for a run to premier. They have so much support, so much awareness, so many companies with deep, deep pockets that are frothing at the mouth to just throw their money at wrexham. The only real hiccup is becoming victims of their own success. Trading a beloved player is going to be that much harder. More than a season or two of poor performance would be disastrous for the whole structure.

[@interstellarbeatteller9306]

I wonder if the lack of relegation/promotion in US soccer is actually legal within a sporting context? The beauty of the game is that anybody can start a team that could eventually rise to the top division. Soccer/Footie is so popular Worldwide because of the small, local clubs like Wrexham, who are fast becoming everyone's 2nd favourite club! Good interview, thanks!

[@davidnelson7719]

Uh, yes? It is legal.

[@interstellarbeatteller9306]

@@davidnelson7719 Well maybe the US sporting laws need amending? It happened with the Bosman ruling in Europe.

[@davidnelson7719]

@@interstellarbeatteller9306 Or... or... how about you just not worry yourself about it?

[@interstellarbeatteller9306]

@@davidnelson7719 Or... or... how about you go away and bother someone else? You clearly have no interest in sensible debate

[@davidnelson7719]

@@interstellarbeatteller9306 What exactly is the debate? You dislike another country's laws? That is just you crying about something that doesn't affect you in the least.

[@virginianative847]

I’d love to see them level up to championship league, love it for our US boys (I know Ryan is from Canada but he lives in the US). And all of UK gets a little view of what it takes to make an American football team good and it’s that money bringing in big time players or recruiters, it takes money and people hate that but that’s what it takes.

[@interstellarbeatteller9306]

My club Millwall are in the championship, so hopefully Wrexham will be joining us soon!

[@DraigBlackCat]

As a longtime Wrexham fan I can tell you that our status as a Welsh club in the English league has always given an extra edge to our games. That still holds true, but now we also have opponents also wanting to put one over this star Hollywood team. For many of our opponents playing Wrexham is one of their biggest games of the season, their cup final. This drives our players on, but also introduces an extra element of cumulative stress that tires the players and, with the relentless Saturday-Tuesday schedule in the EFL, can result in some shock results. This is makes the league more exciting and is good TV for Welcome to Wrexham, but we are no different to other teams in the league. They too experience their own occasional shock results. This, together with promotion and relegation battles, is what keeps interest alive throughout the entire season. Wrexham weren't even the best story in League Two last season. That accolade must surely go to Doncaster, who climbed from just above the relegation zone in January right up to the play-offs, only to suffer the heartbreak of being beaten by Crewe in the play-offs. Being a fan of one club does not make you blind to the stories of the other clubs in your division or in the EFL and Premiership. I hope Welcome to Wrexham conveys this to the worldwide audience. All the world's a stage and we are all players. Each donning the colours of our respective clubs, but all contributing to the rich tale of English league football.

[@MichaelLoRe]

That’s a beauty and magic of promotion/relegation. 🍿

[@clj.4874]

Shame shaun was not asked about a training ground and the new kop if any developments on either.

[@MichaelLoRe]

Sorry. I’ll do better next time.

[@Red_Snappa]

Having the club grow as it is doing, just highlights how ultra-important it is to increase the stadium's capacity. The progress on the new Kop stand has been stuck for *18 months* ....with NO sign of any start date for construction to begin. It's nigh-on impossible to get tickets as it is....pushing & pushing to grow the fanbase & interest in the club just seems pointless.

[@MichaelLoRe]

I understand the frustration with seating capacity but growing the club is more than just selling tickets to home matches. Hopefully the increased interest expedites the renovations so more are able to attend.

[@skipabit7847]

Interesting chat. I disagree that new viewers are equal fans to those who saved club from oblivion. The Americanisation of the club I love is still a hard pill to swallow despite the success on the pitch. It is an opinion that most people don’t want to talk about, and people on both sides of the pond get angry about when its questioned. Americans have consistently bought British brands and institutions and ruined the things that made them special. I’m sure Cadbury’s is more profitable than ever, but it tastes like sh*t now. Personally, I can’t wait for the documentary to end so that interest abroad wanes and we can stabilise as a football league club where we belong, hopefully in League One. Oh, and all the hangers-on at home and abroad will move on to the next shiny thing ❤

[@MichaelLoRe]

It’s a shame you feel that increased awareness, investment and support are a bad thing for the club and community.

[@enzogonzales3038]

loser mentality