Wrexham are chasing promotion to the Championship this season but also have one eye on a potential route into Europe.
Wrexham players are currently enjoying a well-earned rest after a busy festive period.
Five games in 14 days saw Wrexham pick up 10 points, winning three games at home but picking up just one point from two away games.
Iwan Roberts is worried about Wrexham’s away record and Phil Parkinson will be keen to resolve that issue as the season goes on.
For now though, Parkinson is relishing the rest with Wrexham players enjoying a break.
Two postponements in a row mean Wrexham will have had nearly two weeks off before facing Shrewsbury Town on Thursday.
Wrexham European plan latest
The main aim for Wrexham this season is promotion to the Championship.
Third in League One after back-to-back promotions, Wrexham have a real chance to make it three in a row.
There are other plans at Wrexham though and one features a potential route into Europe.
Reports in October suggested that Wrexham held talks to join the Welsh League Cup alongside Cardiff City, Swansea City and Newport County.
The cup presents a route into the UEFA Conference League, but Wrexham would have to give up any route into Europe through English competitions.
There is much for Wrexham to weigh up here but the EFL appear to have major concerns about allowing the switch to go ahead.
Reports in December highlighted how EFL officials were not exactly keen on Wrexham and other Welsh clubs joining the Welsh League Cup.
The Athletic now suggest that the EFL board have offered three major concerns to The FA when asked for advice on the situation.
It’s stated that the EFL are concerned about ‘the integrity of its competition, the congested calendar and commercial impact’.
They seemingly don’t want Wrexham playing in EFL games and then playing in Welsh competitions, adding games to the schedule and potentially taking commercial appeal away.
One point we would raise here is that Swiss side Vaduz – who can only qualify for European competition through the Liechtenstein Football Cup – do not play in the Swiss Cup as a result.
Their situation is similar to this Wrexham idea and we can only assume that joining the Welsh League Cup would take Wrexham out of the EFL Cup, FA Cup and EFL Trophy, depending on division.
The EFL have ultimately advised The FA to withhold approval of any switch though, meaning Wrexham’s plans to chase European football have hit a stumbling block.
Mixed views on Wrexham joining Welsh League Cup
The EFL aren’t keen and others share a similar view.
Pundit Marc Lloyd Williams has slammed the idea, telling Wrexham and other involved clubs to ‘stay in England’.
The Wrexham Supporters’ Trust have made their concerns clear too, suggesting that they would be against the idea if it impacts the club’s EFL status.
The FAW are keen on the idea but the momentum behind Wrexham joining the Welsh League Cup appears to be slowing down.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds may well back away if fans and governing bodies just aren’t on board and it will take a big turnaround from the EFL to sanction the switch in 2025.