Championship
Can Wrexham Clinch Promotion To The Premier League In 2025/26?
I’M tipping Wrexham to gain promotion from the EFL Championship to the Premier League this season. Probably through the Play-Offs.
It would be an unprecedented fourth consecutive promotion starting out at National League level and ascending right up to the internationally prestigious top table.
My judgement is based on Wrexham’s incredible team ethics. I witnessed these at first hand inside the Matrade Loftus Road press box recently when the Welsh side pulled off an incredible 3-2 win against Queens Park Rangers.
Home side QPR were leading 2-1 as we entered four minutes of added time at the very end. Ok, the R’s had just had Amadou Mbengue sent off for a second bookable offence. Yet no one could have predicted what happened next.
Wrexham simply kept going and going and going. It was like a tidal wave of attacking intent.
On 92 minutes and 20 seconds, Josh Windass hooked in their equaliser. Then with merely 10 seconds to go, Ollie Rathbone expertly took aim fully 30 yards out and the ball exploded into the back of the net.
A sensational winning goal engendered via indomitable spirit! I could barely believe what I was seeing.
Since then, Wrexham have masterminded a really strong denouement to the January transfer window recruiting Bailey Cadamarteri (from Sheffield Wednesday), Davis Keillor-Dunn (Barnsley) and Zak Vyner (Bristol City).
According to the latest football betting markets for outright promotion and a top six finish, Wrexham are ranked at 12/1 and 5/2 respectively.
It is clear to me that Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are astute businessmen who knew exactly what they were doing when acquiring Wrexham in a blazing publicity wave during 2021.
A true sleeping giant has subsequently been awoken by drawing support from the massive catchment area right the way across North Wales. Half a country in fact.
The only problem I can envisage for Wrexham is their home stadium at STōK Cae Ras (the Racecourse Ground) is going to be too small for this ongoing rapid progress. Current sell-out crowds are registering just above the 10,600 mark in a three-sided lay-out while the old Kop end terrace is being replaced.
Michael Williamson, chief executive officer of Wrexham, said: “Building the new Kop Stand is a hugely significant moment for the club and our supporters. The Kop has always held deep importance.
“Over the coming months, fans will see the structure take shape. We are delivering a stand that enhances capacity, improves facilities and secures the STōK Cae Ras as a top-tier venue for domestic football, Welsh international matches plus other sporting and entertainment events.”
Costing a reported £80-90million, the new construction will seat 7,750 fans amid a two-tiered affect taking the overall capacity over 18,000. I am sure Reynolds and McElhenney will look to increase it even further for future years. In the meantime, STōK Cae Ras will shortly be bigger than the Premier League stadiums of both Brentford and AFC Bournemouth.
Joint owner Rob McElhenney said: “Getting to the Premier League is our ultimate goal. And we must ensure we stay in the Premier League so everything is sustainable.
“There are all sorts of ways to succeed. However we want to do it in a way which the local community supports.
“We have a further plan in place embracing all four stands. It’s hard to say exactly, but we think we could develop the overall stadium capacity to between 45,000 and 55,000 people. Therefore the whole town could come to a game!”
Fantastic words! Ultimately, the Hollywood story would be complete if Wrexham can secure a Premier League berth.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at time of writing*
