New Website, New Rumors
It's been another slow news week for Wrexham, but the transfer rumor mill continues to pick up speed.
TST was fun but now it’s done and the long five-week wait until Wrexham’s Wrex Coast Tour begins.
News from the Week:
Rob/Phil Meeting Planned for This Week
Fresh from throwing out the first pitch at MLB’s London series this week, Rob McElhenney told TalkSPORT that he is scheduled to meet with manager Phil Parkinson in Wrexham this week to discuss transfer plans. He also dropped this promising quote regarding Arthur Okonkwo:
We’re talking to Arthur actively right now, we know he wants to come back to Wrexham and we definitely want him. It’s just about working out the right deal that works for everybody.
ICYMI: The TST Wrecap
On Sunday I put out a full Wrecap of Wrexham’s activities at this year’s TST. The Women were swept in the group stage while the men made it to the round of 16 - the same round they were eliminated at last year. The tournament concluded yesterday with Delaware’s La Bombonera taking the million-dollar prize for the men, defeating Nani FC 4-0. The US Women won the women’s tournament, besting North Carolina Courage 6-3.
New website and…app?
Wrexham have updated their website and in doing so have included an ‘app’ tab at the top of the page. Clicking on it will reveal this little spoiler:
So stay tuned!
Get to Know League One
With a new league comes new competition. Throughout the summer editions of the Wreader I’m going to provide a little profile of each club, two per week, for those subscribers new to the English Football Pyramid.
Bristol Rovers FC
Location: Bristol, England
Founded: 1883
Nickname(s): The Pirates, The Gas
Ownership: Hussain AlSaeed
Last Season: 15th in League One
With the exception of a few prolonged stints in the second tier back in the 1950s, 70s, and 90s, Bristol Rovers FC have been almost exclusively a third-tier club for the vast majority of their existence. They dipped as low as the National League for the 14/15 season, but have stayed in League One ever since they made it back in 16/17, with one lone return year in League Two for the 21/22 season. That said: they have yet to finish above tenth on the League One table since winning the third tier in the 89/90 season.
While they did lead the league in Saves per match (3.3) last season, they were largely middle of the road in all other major categories. That’s not to say they are without their threats. Their star striker, Chris Martin (not that one) ranked fifth overall last season with his 16 goals and midfielder Anthony Evans cracked the top 20 in FotMob rating at 18th last year. They, along with Luke Thomas, Harvey Vale, and Sam Finley serve as the squad’s standout players - all of which remain under contract for next season.
While anything can happen, of course, history would tell us to expect The Pirates to patrol the waters in the middle and lower third of the table again next year
Burton Albion FC
Location: Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England
Founded: 1950
Nickname(s): The Brewers, The Yellow and Black Army
Ownership: Nordic Football Group
Last Season: 20th in League One
One of the newer clubs in the league at 73 years young, Burton Albion FC only entered what is now called the National League in 2002. Since then, they’ve been on a gradual rise, eventually making it to the Championship for 16/17 and 17/18 seasons before being relegated back to League One. They’ve been in the third tier ever since, but a slow decline in ranking has developed over the past six years and they finished only two points clear of relegation last season. Unsurprisingly, the squad’s top stats from last year aren’t very flattering. They were third in the league in expected goals conceded (63.0), second in yellow cards (114), and first in fouls per match (12.8). Their top scorer, Beryly Lubala, netted just seven goals.
But for the purposes of this newsletter, they did have one big win last year: they knocked Wrexham out of the EFL Trophy (not to be confused with the EFL Cup, aka The Carabao Cup). Of course, Phil hardly prioritized the competition and didn’t roll out the whole first team, but still: Wrexham will be seeking some small revenge this year. Burton have just seven players out of contract as we head into the summer, but the squad they’re retaining are hardly top of the league. Midfielder Joe Powell was far and away their top-ranked player, and still only ranked as 37th in the league according to FotMob.
I’d be surprised to see a serious promotion run out of the Brewers next year.
Rumor Round-up
Waters on the Move?
Billy Waters was never likely to be included in the opening day squad. A sale or a loan for the striker was always the most likely summer outcome for Waters and the former now seems likely. League Two Gillingham have reportedly expressed an interest in signing Waters. Why? I have no idea. In his short loan to Doncaster Rovers this past spring he made eleven appearances and scored in (check notes) none of them. In fact, we at Wrexham are still awaiting his first goal for our club (he’s made eight appearances since March 2023). If Gillingham (or anyone else, for that matter) want him, I can’t imagine Phil will beleaguer negotiations.
Gareth Bale
Here we go again. Just like last summer, Rob McElhenney has once again publicly stated his desire to pull another Ben Foster and lure Welsh legend Gareth Bale out of retirement to play for Wrexham. Bale played almost exclusively at the top tiers of world football: Southampton, Tottenham and Real Madrid before making 12 appearances for LAFC to cap his career. Speaking of caps, he also has more caps and more goals for Wales than any other player.
Gareth fanned the flames of this rumor himself last summer in this somewhat infamous tweet:
This week Rob once again stated that Bale is “technically still available,” and that his offer stands but Bale has finally put the issue to bed, telling Manchester Evening News:
No, I don’t think so…I think I was looking more for a free round of golf off Rob. I’m sure we’ll have a chat and a joke, but I’m quite happy where I am.
I’m spending a lot of time with my kids, my wife, time that I’ve lost so much over the years being committed to football. I’m just enjoying family life and playing some golf.
So that’s that. Let’s get back to real transfer candidates, shall we, Rob?
Marc Leonard Update
Of the names I reported last week, Marc Leonard appears to be one of Wrexham’s prime targets at the moment. Journalist Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Leonard is expected to leave Brighton and that Oxford, Birmingham City, and Wrexham are the leading suitors. Signing him would certainly make for an interesting midfield mix and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Phil change his preferred formation to accommodate Leonard alongside Lee, Evans, and Cannon.
Rumor Tracker
Reported Interest:
Jason Kerr - Signed extension with Wigan
Tom Pearce
Stephen Humphrys
Josh Magennis
Marc Leonard
Marvin Ekpiteta
Jamie LindsayGareth Bale - Happily retired
Contract Officially Offered to:
Steven Fletcher
Aaron James
Mark Howard
Arthur Okonkwo
Squad Depth
Below is the squad as it stands. I’ll keep this depth chart updated as time and transfers go by. My depth rankings are based on the assumption Phil keeps the same 5-3-2 formation and everyone is healthy.
Callum Edwards added to the striker pecking order
Aaron James added to the bottom of RWB options.
In exploring Wrexham’s new website, I noticed Harry Ashfield is now listed under the first team and not the academy. Ashfield was given a 1-year extension at the end of last season, but there has been no announcement that he was officially added to the first team on a professional contract. Nevertheless, I’m taking this website update to mean he’s at least an option for Phil, so I’m adding him to my depth chart.
Arrivals
James McClean »»» Contract extended for a second year
Harry Dean »»» Signed to a professional contract from the youth squad
Departures
Aaron Hayden »»» Released »»» signed a 2-year deal with Carlisle United
Rob Lainton »»» Released, currently a free agent
Callum McFadzean »»» Released, currently a free agent
Jordan Tunnicliffe »»» Released, currently a free agent
Owen Cushion »»» Released, currently a free agent
Dan Davies. »»» Released, currently a free agent
Ben Tozer »»» Released »»» signed with Forest Green Rovers
Luke Young »»» Released, currently a free agent
Max Hayes »»» Released, currently a free agent
Michael Hayman »»» Released, currently a free agent
Jack Pilkington »»» Released, currently a free agent
Jake Roberts »»» Released, currently a free agent
Dan Wright »»» Released, currently a free agent
Scott Butler »»» Released »»» signed with Marine FC