The celebrity owners of Wrexham AFC, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have been put on notice regarding their spending plans for the upcoming January transfer window. The warning comes from Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman, who has raised significant concerns about the club potentially breaching the EFL's Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
The Spending Spree and Play-Off Dilemma
This caution follows a summer of substantial investment by the Hollywood-backed club. After securing promotion to the Championship, Wrexham embarked on a major squad overhaul, spending a staggering £33 million on new players. The investment initially seemed to pay dividends, with Phil Parkinson's side enjoying an impressive nine-match unbeaten streak that fuelled hopes of a play-off challenge.
However, recent form has dipped. A 2-0 defeat at Hull in mid-December ended that run, and a 2-1 loss at Swansea City on Friday night has left the Red Dragons in 15th place in the Championship table. They now sit seven points adrift of the play-off positions, creating a strategic crossroads for the owners and management.
Goodman's Financial Fair Play Warning
In an interview with CasinoHawks, former Wolves and Sunderland striker Don Goodman delivered a clear message to the owners. He advised them to resist the temptation to "go big" in the January market to chase a top-six finish, highlighting the financial risks involved.
"The gamble is if they spend a lot of money to get in the play-offs and don't get up, then they're going to be up against it from a financial fair play point of view," Goodman stated. He suggested the wiser course would be to assess the current campaign and plan for a major push next season. "If it were me, I would hold on and I'd go big in the summer, having learned from what you've had to face and what you've learned this season."
Goodman also pointed to a key on-pitch issue, noting, "for me, they just don't score enough goals." He highlighted that while summer signings Kieffer Moore (8 goals), Josh Windass (6), Lewis O'Brien (3), and Nathan Broadhead (3) have contributed 20 of the team's 26 league goals, it pales in comparison to rivals like Coventry City, who have scored double that amount.
Context and Praise for Parkinson's Achievements
Despite the current challenges and spending warnings, Goodman was keen to emphasise the broader context of Wrexham's season and the achievement of manager Phil Parkinson. He reminded critics that the club finished 19 points behind League One champions Birmingham City last season and that stepping up to the Championship while integrating 13 new players is a formidable task.
"What Phil Parkinson has done is an art and a skill. I hope that Phil is very proud of what he's done this season," Goodman said. "The Championship is such a tough league and a massive step from League One."
The immediate challenge for Wrexham was evident in the Swansea defeat. They took an early lead via a Cameron Burgess own goal, but Zan Vipotnik equalised before a calamitous mistake from goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo handed Swansea striker Adam Idah a late winner. The result leaves the owners with a crucial decision: to invest further in January or to consolidate and plan for the long term, all while keeping a watchful eye on the EFL's financial rulebook.
