Since taking over Wrexham in 2020, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have done incredible things for the club and delivered immense success.
You’d be hard-pressed to find any Wrexham fans who aren’t happy with what Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have done since arriving in Wales.
They’ve taken the club from National League obscurity to a League One promotion push within four years, and have well and truly put Wrexham on the map.
However, the Wrexham owners appear to be steering the club towards plans for a new Welsh League Cup and a potential route into European football, but that would be a mistake.
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Pushing for the Welsh League Cup would jeopardise Wrexham’s Football League progress
The idea of the Welsh League Cup has been met with opposition from various sections of the game, and it would come with massive implications for any club involved.
On the plus side, the new competition would unite Welsh football, bring in a fresh revenue stream for Wrexham and the other clubs, and offer the chance of Europa Conference League qualification.
However, committing to this path would cause division within the English Football League, and it is known the EFL is eager to prevent this happening as the Welsh League Cup would lead to fixture congestion and split loyalties.
Long term, it would also mean Wrexham, Cardiff, and Swansea would be unable to qualify for Europe through English cup competitions or their league standing, should any of them go on to reach the Premier League.
Wrexham have done amazingly to rise through the Football League so quickly, and the sky really is the limit for the Red Dragons. So, is the short-term gamble of a potential shortcut to European football really worth jeopardising all that they’ve built so far?
Rob and Ryan must decide what is more important – Welsh identity or genuine success?
Way back when Rob and Ryan first got involved with Wrexham, they were very clear about their desire to do right by the community. Embracing Welsh football through this proposed cup would certainly tick that box.
But, the ultimate goal for Wrexham is to eventually make it to the Premier League and compete with the very best teams in the country.
Wrexham have achieved quickfire success, and it would be easy to be lured in the tantalising promise of even more chances to win trophies and grab a seat at the European table, but there is a lot to be said for the value of patience in pursuing success, too.
Phil Parkinson has the Red Dragons on course for yet another promotion this year, and the immense challenge of Championship football will surely be enough to sate the hunger of any Wrexham fan craving success without the need for another distraction; especially one that could harm the club’s relationship with the EFL.