Wrexham AFC has received a significant boost from the Welsh government in the form of £18m in non-repayable grants to help with its redevelopment plans. The club, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, was already enjoying increased revenue thanks to its Disney+ series "Welcome to Wrexham", which attracted massive audiences.
The grant comes at a time when local council budgets are under pressure, with reports of budget crises in some schools and the threat of redundancies for council staff. The club's decision to receive this funding has raised questions about why taxpayers would be subsidizing a privately-owned business, particularly one owned by wealthy individuals.
Football finance expert Stefan Borson has described the grant as an "£18m non-repayable subsidy" to a private company valued at £350m. He pointed out that existing owners of Wrexham AFC are US-based and wealthy individuals with access to liquid funds, making it unlikely they would need taxpayer support.
The Welsh government claims that the funding is necessary for international matches to be hosted at the Wrexham General train station stadium, citing economic benefits for the local area. However, some have questioned why this funding was not used instead of granting direct state aid to other clubs in the country.
Wrexham AFC has welcomed the funding and plans to use it for improvements to its stadium, including a new Kop stand that will bring it up to international standards. The club's spokesperson stated that the investment would create jobs and stimulate local economic growth through increased tourism from hosting international events.
The £18m grant is significant compared to other clubs in the country, with only Plymouth Argyle receiving £2m and Bradford City getting £670,000 from the Welsh government. Stockport County, which finished one place below Wrexham this summer, was denied promotion to the Championship due to the club's lack of access to direct state aid.
The funding has sparked debate about the role of public funding in supporting football clubs, particularly those owned by wealthy individuals and private companies.
The grant comes at a time when local council budgets are under pressure, with reports of budget crises in some schools and the threat of redundancies for council staff. The club's decision to receive this funding has raised questions about why taxpayers would be subsidizing a privately-owned business, particularly one owned by wealthy individuals.
Football finance expert Stefan Borson has described the grant as an "£18m non-repayable subsidy" to a private company valued at £350m. He pointed out that existing owners of Wrexham AFC are US-based and wealthy individuals with access to liquid funds, making it unlikely they would need taxpayer support.
The Welsh government claims that the funding is necessary for international matches to be hosted at the Wrexham General train station stadium, citing economic benefits for the local area. However, some have questioned why this funding was not used instead of granting direct state aid to other clubs in the country.
Wrexham AFC has welcomed the funding and plans to use it for improvements to its stadium, including a new Kop stand that will bring it up to international standards. The club's spokesperson stated that the investment would create jobs and stimulate local economic growth through increased tourism from hosting international events.
The £18m grant is significant compared to other clubs in the country, with only Plymouth Argyle receiving £2m and Bradford City getting £670,000 from the Welsh government. Stockport County, which finished one place below Wrexham this summer, was denied promotion to the Championship due to the club's lack of access to direct state aid.
The funding has sparked debate about the role of public funding in supporting football clubs, particularly those owned by wealthy individuals and private companies.
and it's literally hilarious! Like, it's not even trying to be good at it, but it's still entertaining. And have you ever noticed how cats always land on their feet? It's like they have a sixth sense or something. I was watching this video and my mind just went off in all directions. Did you know that scientists are studying cat agility because of its potential applications in robotics? Anyway, back to Wrexham AFC... yeah, it's weird how the government is subsidizing a private company owned by wealthy individuals 
I mean, it's good that Wrexham AFC is getting some help with its redevelopment plans, but £18m from taxpayers just seems weird, you know? 
I'm not saying the club doesn't deserve it, but shouldn't they be able to sort out their own finances first? 
They deserve all the luck in the world, you know? Like, who wouldn't want to see their team thrive on TV after that Disney+ show? 
And £18m is a huge deal, for sure. But, tbh, I'm kinda curious about why they needed public funding instead of just using it themselves? 
So, fingers crossed for Wrexham AFC and their brand new stadium! 
Can't wait to see them slay the football world! 
plus the gov is saying its for the local economy which i guess could be a positive thing 
. I mean, why can't other clubs get in on that action? It just seems like more taxpayer money being funneled into the pockets of wealthy individuals and private companies.
And while it's cool that they're getting this cash, I think it's also kinda weird that a private company (owned by those Hollywood guys) is getting this handout 
Did you know that Wrexham AFC is valued at £350m? That's like, a gazillion pounds! 
So yeah, it's not exactly broke or anything... 
️. Like, Plymouth Argyle got £2m and Bradford City got £670k? That's like, crumbs compared to what Wrexham just got 
.
Anyway, I guess this just shows that football finance is super complicated 
. What do you guys think about all this?
but i guess the welsh gov wants to support their international matches & boost local tourism 
anyway, its cool that wrexham AFC is using the funding for upgrades like a new kop stand - it's all about supporting community development & creating jobs 
. Still, it's definitely a topic that needs some more discussion and debate 
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I guess the economic benefits for the local area could be significant if they do host international matches and create jobs... but is it really fair that we're subsidizing a private company? 
. Moreover, some might argue that if the government wanted to support football clubs, they should consider providing more equitable funding opportunities to other clubs, rather than just one privately-owned business.
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Anyway, at least the club's gonna be able to improve their stadium, so fingers crossed for some better matches there