Wrexham AFC has gained significant attention since welcoming Hollywood actors as co-owners at the SToK Racecourse in 2021. The increased visibility has its benefits, but also brings new challenges as the spotlight is now brighter on the Welsh club.
Fans from around the world can now voice their opinions on professional football thanks to video games like FIFA and Football Manager, along with social media platforms. Wrexham’s executive director, Humphrey Ker, has commented on the increased scrutiny the club faces, saying: “No League Two club has had more attention than Wrexham. Our fans, and even fans from other clubs, have high expectations for us. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how things should be done, influenced by games like FIFA and Football Manager, where they feel like they’re in the manager’s seat. I read comments criticizing Phil Parkinson for supposedly having no ‘Plan B,’ but that’s not true. He adapts the formation to suit different scenarios, and I don’t understand why he gets so much flak, especially considering he’s led us to consecutive promotions for the first time in our history.”
Phil Parkinson, having led Wrexham to League One, is now preparing for the upcoming summer transfer window. He’s expecting changes in the team, with players likely to come and go in the next few weeks. Ker, a club official, mentions that some of the heroes from their promotion campaign might be leaving, saying: “We anticipate player turnover this summer due to several contracts expiring. Some players who were key to our success may be departing, but those whose contracts are ending understand that in football, things are constantly changing, and you can’t stay at one club indefinitely. That’s just the nature of the sport.”
Wrexham has returned to the third tier of English football for the first time in 20 years. Although they faced challenges over the past two seasons, they know the stakes are higher in League One, where they aim to stay competitive and bring more excitement to the club’s acclaimed documentary series.
