Wrexham are paying Premier League-level wages to compete in the Championship, according to club director Shaun Harvey. The Welsh side, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have made six signings this summer, including Bolton captain George Thomason and Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien.
Harvey revealed on Ben Foster's podcast that the club targets players used to playing one division higher, which now means signing Premier League-quality players who demand top salaries. He said the monthly wage bill now exceeds the total spent during their National League days.
However, Harvey noted that the so-called 'Wrexham tax'—a financial sweetener to convince players to drop down divisions—is no longer necessary in the Championship. 'We were having to persuade players who were better than the standard of the division to drop down,' he said.
New signing Lewis O'Brien cited the club's Disney+ documentary and back-to-back promotions as key reasons for joining. 'It's like a Disney story,' he said, adding that he wants to settle in the area with his family.
