Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with the ‘UK football regulations’ that have imposed limitations on the salaries they are able to offer to their women’s team. Despite achieving semi-professional status the previous year, the Wrexham women’s team encountered constraints on their remuneration, much to the chagrin of Mr. McElhenney.
Following a triumphant season in which the Wrexham women’s team asserted their dominance in the Adran North and secured promotion to the Adran Premier, the highest echelon of women’s football in Wales, both Mr. McElhenney and fellow proprietor Ryan Reynolds encountered impediments when attempting to provide equitable compensation to the players. In order to compete at the Adran Premier level and furnish contracts to their players, the club was obligated to apply for a Tier 1 license. Despite making history by bestowing ten semi-professional contracts, stringent restrictions on player salaries persisted, a situation Mr. McElhenney has described as substandard and obstructive.
“UK football regulations impede one from realizing certain aspirations,” Mr. McElhenney acerbically remarked, articulating his exasperation with the FA and FAW (Football Association Wales).
Although they harbour ambitions for the men’s team to ascend to the Premier League, Messrs. McElhenney and Reynolds are equally committed to bolstering the women’s team, not just within Wales but on a global scale. Underscoring the importance of establishing sustainable salaries for the players, Mr. McElhenney has expressed his conviction in the potential for the women’s team to rise to the ranks of the world’s elite.
Their dedication to the women’s team became evident in their documentary series, where they admitted to being initially unaware of the women’s team until they assumed ownership of the club. Subsequently, they have made it a priority to advocate for and enhance the women’s programme, acknowledging the pivotal role the players play in the club’s success.
In addition to verbal support, the proprietors from Hollywood have also taken concrete measures to endorse the women’s team. Ryan’s spouse, Blake Lively, sponsored the women’s team with her beverage brand, Betty Buzz, which was prominently featured on the team’s match shirts. Their objective is to revolutionize the landscape of Welsh women’s football, which has traditionally been dominated by a few established clubs such as Cardiff City and Swansea City.
As they continue to make advancements in establishing the women’s team as a formidable presence, both Messrs. McElhenney and Reynolds have made it apparent that their aim is to provide the requisite resources and backing to ensure the success of the women’s programme.
The commitment of the Wrexham co-owners to rectifying the imbalances in pay and to according precedence to the women’s team indicates a positive stride towards the future of women’s football at Wrexham.