Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has opened up on the club’s approach to player sales, admitting he will soon have to discuss offers with co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson has confessed that discussions about selling the club’s young talent may soon be on the cards with the owners. The Red Dragons have soared to new heights, achieving three back-to-back promotions since being taken over by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in February 2021.
The club’s younger players have been instrumental in their meteoric rise from the National League to the Championship. Key players like centre-back Max Cleworth, 23, and wing-back Ryan Barnett, 25, were part of the squad for Phil Parkinson‘s side’s final non-league match, a 1-1 draw with Torquay United in April 2023.
Both players also featured in the starting line-up for Wrexham‘s first game in the second tier in 43 years, a narrow last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Southampton on Saturday. Cleworth, especially, is being tipped for a future in the Premier League.
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Speaking to ex-Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster, Williamson revealed that Reynolds and McElhenney would be hesitant to let go of their star defender. However, during his appearance on the Fozcast podcast, he admitted that they would likely respect the player’s wishes if such a situation arose.
The confession came after Foster’s co-host, Tom Ochoa, questioned him on how the club would react if a Premier League team tabled a £15million offer for Cleworth.
Williamson said: “We’re giving opportunities to players like Max, who’s going to arrive in the Premier League, either with us or somebody else will be knocking at the door at some point. I’m hoping it’s with us because players like that are so critical.
“It’s hard because I know what our answer would be [to selling him]. I know what Rob and Ryan would say without even having to ask them. The answer is, ‘No, he’s not available and he’s not for sale.'”.
“But the issue is, what does Max want? Rob And Ryan care about the players as individuals, so in situations like that, it would probably come down to what the player wants.”
Wrexham have thus far refused to cash in on their prized talents, with the majority of departing players being let go by the club rather than sold. However, Williamson admitted that stance may soon have to shift.
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The Welsh outfit’s record transfer fee received remains the £1million Birmingham City splashed out for Bryan Hughes in 1997, though many anticipate Cleworth could eclipse that figure if he moves on.
“The reality of that conversation needing to happen is probably closer than it’s ever been before,” said Williamson.
“Whether it’s Max, Barney [Ryan Barnett], Brunty [Lewis Brunt] or Harry Ashfield, we’ve retained those younger players through this journey which is fantastic, because that hasn’t been the case in the past.
“But that conversation is going to happen, because at some point somebody is going to come knocking on the door, because those are some incredible players that are still at the start of their careers.”
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