Jay Rodriguez has been a talking point for Wrexham fans after their team’s draw with Wigan Athletic.
Wrexham remain favourites to win promotion from League One ahead of Wycombe Wanderers, but Saturday’s stalemate did them no favours.
Phil Parkinson’s men sit one point above third-place Wycombe, going into their meeting with Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
Bristol Rovers are 21st in the division and should prove an easy side to overcome, but as shown on April 12, the Red Dragons can struggle against weaker teams.
Wrexham drew 0-0 with Wigan Athletic and even more conceringly, didn’t manage a single shot on target.
Fans want Paul Mullin brought back into the squad by Parkinson, but the 30-year-old hasn’t featured since Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith were signed on January 31.
Smith has looked sharp since arriving in a record deal from Reading, but Wrexham fans aren’t happy with Rodriguez.
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Wrexham fans hit out at Jay Rodriguez after Wigan Athletic
The former Burnley man has scored two goals since his winter switch, but both came via penalties.
Away from his spot-kick goal and rebounded effort after missing a penalty, Rodriguez has done little in open play in the last two and a half months.
Now, Wrexham fans have taken to social media to question why he is still starting games, with some suggesting the striker’s wage is the reason Parkinson keeps selecting him.
One fan wrote: “Let’s not kid ourselves, signing Rodriguez was a poor bit of business. Offered next to nothing since signing in January. What’s more bizarre is Parky’s naivety to keep on starting him every week. Only my opinion of course.”
A second replied: “Mullin did more when people were asking him for pictures in the away end. There’s at least 3 or 4 better players not getting into the match-day squad because of Rodriguez.”
“I don’t understand why Rodriguez continues to get starts it essentially handcuffs the attack until he is subbed off…like playing a man down for 60 minutes a match…” a third wrote.
A fourth echoed: “There’s a better player not getting on the bench.”
While some have suggested Rodriguez’s wage is the reason he continues to be selected every week.
One wrote: “Got to justify the wages though, that’s his problem, he’s in a propper wedge but offering what for it.”
Another fan questioned: “Is his rumoured weekly wage forcing Parky to start him?”
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Jay Rodriguez Wrexham wage
While not confirmed by the club, sources have suggested that Wrexham are paying Rodriguez £15,000-a-week.
Details of how much fellow winter signings Smith and Ryan Longman are yet to emerge, but even if they are on similar sums, Rodriguez is still one of the highest earners at the Racecourse Ground.
| Player | Weekly salary | Annual salary |
| George Dobson | £7,200 | £374,400 |
| George Evans | £7,200 | £374,400 |
| James McClean | £6,100 | £317,200 |
| Jack Marriott | £6,100 | £317,200 |
| Paul Mullin | £5,800 | £301,600 |
| Steven Fletcher | £5,600 | £291,200 |
| Andy Cannon | £5,500 | £286,000 |
| Will Boyle | £5,400 | £280,800 |
| Eoghan O’Connell | £5,300 | £275,600 |
| Oliver Rathbone | £4,800 | £249,600 |
| Ollie Palmer | £4,800 | £249,600 |
| Seb Revan | £4,600 | £239,200 |
| Elliot Lee | £4,300 | £223,600 |
| Luke Bolton | £4,000 | £208,000 |
| Thomas O’Connor | £3,600 | £187,200 |
| Dan Scarr | £3,400 | £176,800 |
| Ryan Barnett | £2,700 | £140,400 |
| Arthur Okonkwo | £2,500 | £130,000 |
| Jacob Mendy | £2,100 | £109,200 |
| Lewis Brunt | £2,000 | £104,000 |
| Mo Faal | £1,900 | £98,800 |
| Mark Howard | £1,900 | £98,800 |
| Callum Burton | £1,400 | £72,800 |
| Josh Adam | £1,100 | £57,200 |
| Liam Hall | £790 | £41,080 |
| Max Cleworth | £730 | £37,960 |
| Aaron James | £450 | £23,400 |
With four games to go and every fixture now a must-win, it’ll be interesting to see if Parkinson makes any changes to his attack this coming Friday.
Jack Marriott seems the most likely player to come in given Steven Fletcher can’t really play 90 minutes anymore, but Ollie Palmer and Mullin remain options.