Former Wrexham star, Carlos Edwards has opened up about the influx of American ownership in the EFL and the benefits this brings.
Carlos Edwards became something of a Wrexham legend in his time with the club. After joining in 2000, he went on to make 197 appearances for the Reds.
His best moments came as he started the 2004/05 Football League Trophy final as they won the competition for the first time. He was part of the side that gained promotion out of Division Three in 2002/03. He departed the Reds following their relegation.
Things are different nowadays under Phil Parkinson as the Reds are back in the Football League and are flourishing.
They currently occupy second place in League Two and are certainly in the race for automatic promotion again.
This has all been made possible, in part, by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney who have helped transform Wrexham.
Carlos Edwards on Reynolds and McElhenney
Edwards is a popular figure around The Racecourse and now his comments will please the majority of fans.
There are plenty of owners following in the footsteps of the Reds owners and looking to move from the States. This has recently seen Tom Brady join the board at Birmingham City, as an example.
Now Edwards has opened up to Goal.com about the difference that these owners can make, both positive and potentially negative.
On that, he said: “I think it’s good exposure. It can be a bit of a distraction if players look at it in a different perspective away from the football side of it. These guys are businessmen but they love sport. Also, 99.9 per cent of them don’t really know, what they call it in America, soccer.
“They may have a little bit of what the whole European/English football is all about and the passion that the fans put behind it. I think they see that and you have voices saying it’s good investment.”
From watching ‘Welcome to Wrexham‘, everybody can see that Reynolds and McElhenney have taken the club to heart. This is everything from the local community to National League and League Two football.
Edwards continued on saying: “We have a lot of American owners now, even at the highest level, and the players need to understand that they need to do their job.
“Once you have that strong mindset, I don’t think it will be a distraction to the players. They have to leave what the owners and the board have to do and concentrate. You are going to have people saying things, in positive and negative ways, but it’s just the world we live in now.”
It is safe to say that it has worked out for Wrexham with Reynolds and McElhenney. Long may their positive journey continue.