Wrexham can now prepare for life in the Championship following a third successive promotion.
Phil Parkinson has had agents offering players but the Wrexham boss will know that he needs to carefully plan his squad ahead of what will be a tough season in the second tier.
Parkinson wants the right players to come into the Wrexham squad, he has a policy of no superstars and no egos as the togetherness of the dressing room is a real strength of the club and part of their rise.
The Wrexham owners will meet with Parkinson ahead of the summer to discuss new strategies for the journey but how promotion can impact on the club’s finances is still unclear.
Wrexham Insider spoke to TBR’s finance expert Adam Williams and he has shared an insight into what Wrexham can expect next campaign.
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Wrexham’s Championship broadcast revenue boost
The jump from the Championship to the Premier League is widely regarded as the biggest in football in terms of finances however, Wrexham are about to embark on another huge step from League One.
The Red Dragons are about to receive a revenue boost like never before through their participation in the second tier of English football.
Williams stated: “Just as there is cliff edge between the Premier League and the Championship, the same is true between the Championship and League One.
“The median broadcast income for Championship clubs last season was about £9m, and that figure accounts for the distortion caused by club receiving parachute payments, which are classified as broadcast income.
In League One, it was less than £1.5m. That gives you an indication of how much extra income Wrexham can expect, plus those figures are from 2023-24, before the new TV deal came in, so the final amount should be higher by £1-2m too.”
Wrexham’s commercial income revenue boost
With another season of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ about to be released, the club’s commercial popularity is going from strength to strength.
Wrexham are the envy of Premier League clubs in terms of their interest in the United States of America and Championship football will only further solidify that growth.
Williams explained: “You can safely assume that Wrexham’s commercial income will climb exponentially as well. It was £13m in 2023-24, when they were in League Two.
It’s hard to forecast what it will have been this season because what they are doing doesn’t really have a precedent, but we can be confident that there will be another significant bump. My guess is that they could be around £20m, perhaps higher.”
Wrexham’s matchday boost to complete £40m windfall
With improvements to the Racecourse Ground approved and ready to commence, matchday income is set to rise for owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Promotion to the Championship will see further interest in Wrexham through VIPs and hospitality, coupled with broadcasting and commercial boosts, the club could be set for a £40m windfall.
Williams explained: “The third and final revenue stream is matchday income. Again, you can expect some positive movement here, though maybe not as significant as the other categories. They were at £5m in 2023-24, probably £6-7m this year. Maybe that can go to £9m.
“So you’re at £40m in revenue there already, which would have been one of the highest in the Championship last season outside of parachute payment clubs. That gives them a lot of leeway to spend, both in terms of the actual cash available to them and financial fair play.”
Wrexham will be smart and considered with how they use their extra revenue, there won’t be ‘superstar’ signings walking through the door on six-figure-a-week wages.
However, with the owners backing and Parkinson’s experience in building a squad, the Red Dragons are in a wonderful position to progress even further and perhaps surprise a few next season in the Championship.