Why ex-Wrexham owners oppose ambitious Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney plan involving potential European qualification

Despite plying their trade in the English Football League, the Red Dragons – along with Cardiff, Swansea and Newport – have seen a return to Welsh League Cup competition speculated. Readmittance into that tournament would present those involved with an opportunity to qualify for the Europa Conference League.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has said that returning continental action to North Wales would be “amazing”, while club director Shaun Harvey has added: “We are interested because we have got an obligation to give the club the best chance of success.”

There has, however, been plenty of opposition to a proposal that would need to be passed by UEFA, the FA, Premier League and Cymru Premier. The Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST), who sold the club to Hollywood co-chairmen in 2020, has said in a statement carried by Wales Online: “The board’s position is that while we’d love to see Wrexham play in European competitions again, if that meant that our continued membership of the EFL was in any way threatened we are against it.”

Wrexham are said to have sought assurances that any move into cup competition on home soil would not jeopardise their place in the EFL. They are waiting on a ruling from the highest of decision-making bodies “due to the importance and significance of the topic”.

English clubs will have an opportunity to have their say on the plans at some stage, but no timeline has been put in place for a final decision. If Wrexham and Co were to rejoin the Welsh League Cup, then they would surrender their right to qualify for Europe through the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Premier League.