Wrexham admit bid for European football passport is an 'unashamedly financial measure' as Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney told they are 'obligated' to try and push plans through

The Red Dragons have not graced continental competition since reaching the second round of the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1995-96, with Welsh sides competing in the English Football League currently prevented from entering Welsh Cup tournaments.

That situation may be about to change – as the likes of Wrexham, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport are welcomed back into a restructured Welsh League Cup – with a potential route into the Europa Conference League opening up.

Said prospect has got many at SToK Racecourse excited, as another new adventure for Hollywood co-owners presents itself, and Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has told The Leader of ambitious plans: “We are interested because we have got an obligation to give the club the best chance of success. The club, like the other three clubs, is steeped in European history, albeit going back over a period of time. If those days can return to Wrexham at some stage in the future then it’s another step on a remarkable journey.

“It’s not creating something new because the club has been there before but it will give the new generation of fans the opportunity to share the same experiences that their predecessors had. Every so often opportunities like this present themselves and we have got an obligation to both ourselves and football in Wales to look at them. With things such as this, you are always conscious that it might not be universally popular and on that basis, it needs to be well thought out.

“Conversations started probably 18 months ago about the possibility of this. The new owners of Swansea City came to the fore and commissioned research work that categorically proved that if the four Welsh EFL clubs participated in European competitions, then it would be financially beneficial for the whole of football in Wales. There would be financial benefits for whichever club managed to win the Welsh League Cup but only one of the four could win it and it doesn’t mean the Cymru Premier clubs can’t win it either.”

Harvey added on the benefits to all concerned, with it not only Wrexham that stand to bolster their coffers: “People ask why would the Cymru Premier clubs and the FAW support it. The answer is that they are satisfied that it would be in the best interests of football as a whole in Wales. Value is measured in many different ways but in this case, the measure is unashamedly financial.

“The more money that is available to develop and promote the game throughout Wales, the better it has to be for everybody. The FAW would hopefully receive significantly more funding as a result of improved performances to support the development of the women’s game and football below the Cymru Premier.”

No definitive plans have been put in place as yet – with green lights required from the English and Welsh Football Associations, along with UEFA – but speculation has been raging when it comes to possible entry dates for Wrexham into a competition that could offer them a shot at earning a passport back to Europe.