Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have completely transformed Wrexham, but one issue is still yet to be addressed by the pair.
When Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over the club, they had spent over 10 years outside the top-four leagues and were struggling financially.
Wrexham were having a hard time paying wages, attendance was low and it seemed unlikely they would escape the National League anytime soon.
However, since the North American’s arrival at the Racecourse Ground, the Red Dragons have become one of the most well-known clubs in world football.
‘Welcome to Wrexham‘ has brought with it a huge new audience from overseas and, along with the profiles of Rob and Ryan, has helped the club massively on and off the pitch.
However, there’s still one problem that must be sorted out in Wales, especially as their climb up the EFL continues.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney told to improve Wrexham training ground
Reynolds and McElhenney have backed Wrexham heavily in the transfer market, with Sam Smith their first-ever seven-figure signing in January.
Plans to redevelop the Racecourse are also underway, finally fixing the previously derelict Kop end.
While a new-look stadium is obviously good for the club and should bring in more revenue from outside, the training ground remains a big problem.
Now, speaking on the Fearless in Devotion podcast this week, former Wrexham manager Brian Flynn urged the club to improve the training ground, suggesting it ‘would’ve been one of the things’ he fixed first ahead of big transfers.
He said: “Everything a footballer wants is a proper training ground to turn up to train at every day. We ask players to improve themselves every single day.
“How can you expect that when you don’t know where you’re training or what surface it is? It’s impossible. The biggest thing that’s going to help Wrexham football club is not two centre forwards – the training ground is key.
“One of the things you’re absolutely going to look at as a player are what the facilities are like. I think that can and probably has had implications and certainly will do the higher you go up. It’s nice to hear that we are looking at that, but obviously there’s things that are coming before that. That would’ve been one of the things I would’ve put right at the start.”
Michael Williamson on plans to invest in Wrexham’s training facilities
While Flynn’s assessment that the training ground should have been improved a while ago is fair, the club are working to address the issue.
CEO Michael Williamson spoke on Wrexham’s training facilities last month, stating that they do need to invest in order to improve.
He said: “As we move up, recruitment of players in the Championship and Premier League becomes more difficult because they are looking at what facilities are being provided for the players.
“Training facilities are a critical part of that and we absolutely need to invest in training facilities. Colliers Park is fantastic, the pitch is fantastic but it’s not ours.
“We start to talk about percent differences, like one or two percent difference that can mean winning or not winning a match.
“That’s where having proper training facilities and proper rehabilitation facilities gives the players the best opportunity for them to be able to perform for the ninety minutes.”