Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds are still developing Wrexham, and one big improvement could cost them £3m a year.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took ownership of Wrexham in 2021 after a £2m deal was completed.
Since then, the club has grown a great deal on and off the pitch, being handed a £350m valuation in 2025.
This month, Wrexham have received funding from the council for the redevelopment of the Racecourse Ground.
Now, an FAW chief has been discussing plans to improve the Red Dragons’ academy.
Wrexham academy upgrade plan
Following their promotion to the Championship, Wrexham have signed several Welsh internationals.
Kieffer Moore made personal history for Wales when he scored during the September international break.
Danny Ward, who is currently injured, and Nathan Broadhead are also regular features for Craig Bellamy’s side.
However, Dave Adams, the Football Association of Wales’ chief football officer, wants Wrexham to start helping develop the next generation of the country’s internationals by upgrading their academy.
He told BBC Sport: “We’ve obviously got a few Welsh players now in the first team at Wrexham, who’ve signed there [Danny Ward, Nathan Broadhead, Kieffer Moore].
“But our long-term ambition in north Wales is to make sure that Wrexham can become a genuine category one academy, and they can support the domestic ecosystem in north Wales and capture some young talent back into Wrexham.”
Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac need to pay up to upgrade Wrexham’s academy
Wrexham’s rise up the EFL under Reynolds and Mac has been rapid, and the club’s infrastructure has not been able to keep pace with the growth.
Their new stand won’t be finished until some point in 2026/27, meaning there is a chance they could be playing Premier League football with only three quarters of a stadium.
It’s a similar story when it comes to Wrexham’s academy, which is still only category three.
While becoming a category one academy is possible, the BBC reports that in 2020, it was estimated to cost around £3m a year.