Rob McElhenney questions ‘fun UK regulations’ holding Wrexham back as he works with Ryan Reynolds to make the Red Dragons’ women’s team ‘one of the best in the world’

McElhenney and fellow Red Dragons co-chairman Ryan Reynolds have big plans for every area of the Welsh outfit. Most of their attention has focused on the men’s ranks, having seen back-to-back promotions lift them into League One, but interest is being shown elsewhere.

Wrexham’s women’s side were promoted into the Adran Premier last season – the top division in Wales – and a Tier 1 licence was required in order to make that step up. McElhenney and Reynolds made history when handing out 10 semi-pro contracts, but there are still restrictions on what can be paid to players at that level.

McElhenney is struggling to understand why that is the case, saying in series three of the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary: “You have limits on what you're allowed to pay them. Just another one of the really fun UK regulations in football that hold you back from doing some of the things that you want to do.”

He added on grand ambition, which includes sustainable salaries for those in the women’s squad: “We fully and wholeheartedly believe that this is a club that can become one of the best women's teams in the world.”

McElhenney and Reynolds have admitted to being unaware that they were inheriting a women’s team when completing their takeover of Wrexham in 2021, but have fully embraced that side of the club. They have another busy summer in store, with there recruitment decisions and long-term plans to draw up in just about every department.