Who would have imagined Wrexham would take a leap of faith and jump from the National League to EFL League One in three rapid years? Quite stunning isn’t it? Well, that’s exactly what the doctor ordered when Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over the club in 2020. They had a vision – to be the best. And that’s exactly what they did in the previous seasons. Now, they have even more lofty ambitions.
Everyone knows reaching European competitions is the pinnacle of soccer. Beforehand, there used to be the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. Now, there is a European Conference League where the teams can enter the competition if they rank in certain places. As for Wrexham, they have an opportunity to enter Europe. Three years back, if you say this to a Wrexham fan, they would laugh hysterically. Not anymore!
Participating in the Welsh League Cup could be a way for Wrexham to make it to Europe. Apart from the Welsh soccer club, Cardiff City, Newport County, and Swansea City are the other clubs in talks to join the competition. It could become a massive financial boost for these clubs because playing in Europe will get the team recognition. Ryan and Rob tried hard for years to put the club on the map. Their show ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ got them the applause and support they deserved. Hence, things look sensational for the soccer club.
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But there is a catch. The clubs would need to sacrifice potential qualifications through English competitions. Usually, clubs get a chance to qualify through Europe after winning the EFL Cup. Notably, Swansea City did that in 2013 after they won the competition and made it to the Europa League. Apparently, Wrexham and the three other clubs proposed this vision to UEFA, FA, Premier League, and Welsh top-flight clubs. Yet, will it be opposed?
Wrexham’s plans to make Europe could derail!
With this proposal, the rest of the clubs in the Welsh League Cup could find it hard to qualify for Europe. If Wrexham and other EFL clubs perform in the Welsh Cup, the gulf of quality would be immense. It would be hard for other clubs to qualify, and that could cause a mess. To sum up, some clubs could oppose this decision.
Wrexham could easily qualify for Europe through those rounds and the smaller clubs would suffer. So there is a crucial decision to make. Either Wrexham can enter the league by still playing in England. Otherwise, they could have the opportunity to qualify through the Welsh League Cup. Fans are excited at the prospects though and even Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Debate
Can Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's bold moves really propel Wrexham to European football glory?