Wrexham have hit unexpected heights under Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, but the spending power in the Championship is a different animal.
The Championship fixture list will be confirmed this week, and the reality of Wrexham’s situation may truly set in for supporters.
The last four years have been a dream come true for Wrexham supporters, and Championship football still feels like a fantasy.
Three straight promotions mean Wrexham really are gearing up for Championship action, with Thursday’s fixture list release set to hammer that home.
The likes of Leicester City, Southampton, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion will all face Wrexham in league action next season.
Wrexham will certainly throw more than a few punches in the Championship, but Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds will be coming up against some big spenders.
Saudi Arabian billionaire could soon rival Wrexham
Parachute payments and big-spending owners are rife in the Championship, with McElhenney and Reynolds looking to compete.
Investment from the Allyn family will help, but one billionaire is exploring a takeover to blow Championship rivals out of the water.
The Sun report that Saudi Arabian billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh is now looking into purchasing Bristol City.
It’s stated that Al-Sheikh wants to buy a club in the English pyramid, having already invested in other football clubs.
Al-Sheikh previously owned Egyptian side Pyramids FC and is still the owner of Spanish outfit Almeria.
Now exploring English takeovers, Al-Sheikh is looking at a move for Bristol City after recently exploring Millwall as an option.
The Robins already have wealthy owners in the Lansdown family, but Al-Sheikh would bring incredible riches to the table.
Al-Sheikh is the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and has made waves in the boxing world.
Any move for Bristol City is still in its infancy, but we could soon see Wrexham vying with one of Saudi Arabia’s mega-powers in the sporting world.
How Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds compare to Turki Al-Sheikh
Al-Sheikh’s net worth is believed to be over £2billion, which would immediately make him one of the richest owners in the Championship.
McElhenney and Reynolds are thought to have a net worth of $400million (£297million), so quite a way short of Al-Sheikh.
The Allyn family provide financial muscle, though, with a net worth of more than $2billion rumoured.
Wrexham can certainly compete financially at this level, even if Bristol City welcome riches from Saudi Arabia.
Investment in EFL clubs is becoming rather popular for celebrities, big-name players and major investors.
We can’t put all of that down to McElhenney and Reynolds, but their success and vision for Wrexham has certainly played a part.
Wrexham certainly won’t be scared of rival clubs picking up major investment, as McElhenney and Reynolds understand the dream of achieving Premier League football more than anyone.
Other clubs who don’t have significant investment may be a little concerned, but Wrexham are in a position to seriously challenge in the Championship – no matter who joins the party.