Ryan Reynolds (49) and Rob McElhenney (48), co-owners of Wrexham AFC, have once again made a cool decision that has drawn attention.
The Welsh club Wrexham accumulated 92 points (27 wins, 11 draws, 8 losses) this season, placing 2nd behind Birmingham (111 points) and successfully achieved direct promotion to the Championship (second division).
Wrexham has been thriving since Hollywood actors Reynolds and McElhenney took over the club in 2021. They were promoted from the National League (fifth division) to EFL League Two (fourth division) in the 2022-2023 season, and now they are aiming for entry into the Premier League.
The excitement of three consecutive promotions was brief. Wrexham has entered a massive reorganization, deciding to release veteran forward Steven Fletcher without offering a new contract.
Fletcher, a former Scotland national team player, joined Wrexham during their League Two days and contributed to automatic promotion last season in League One with 8 goals. He appeared in 41 out of 43 games as a substitute but managed to secure a one-year contract extension through his strong presence.
However, the Wrexham club chose to make changes for the next step. Fletcher expressed his disappointment on social media (SNS) on the 16th (Korea time), stating, "I had to leave without a choice. I played for many teams over 22 years, but there has been no team as magical as this one."
According to the British 'Mirror,' Wrexham has also decided to part ways with goalkeeper Mark Howard, who was with them for all three consecutive promotions. Howard seems to not have received a contract renewal offer after his contract expired.
In response, McElhenney, co-owner of Wrexham, stated on social media, "Parting ways is the hardest part of club management. They were not just players; they were friends I respect."
Wrexham currently has long-term goals for promotion to the Premier League. They are reportedly planning aggressive acquisitions in this summer's transfer market, eyeing former England national team player Jamie Vardy (38, Leicester City) and veteran midfielder Tom Cairney (34, Fulham) as potential signings.
Wrexham is reportedly considering offering a record transfer fee of around £2 million (about 3.8 billion won) to acquire Cairney.
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