Wrexham have been warned about the potential pitfalls in building their squad for their toughest challenge in recent history.
Former Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler has predicted that the upcoming Championship season will be one of the hardest ever.
Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have put their hands in their pockets once againGettyWrexham are preparing for life in the second tier for the first time since the 1981/82 season after finishing League One runners-up.
The Red Dragons secured an unprecedented three-straight promotions to move one division away from the Premier League.
Since being taken over by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham has been a fairy tale.
However, the financial dominance that the Welsh club once had over their domestic rivals has continually decreased with every promotion.
Birmingham, who count NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority shareholder, set a new Football League points record to beat Wrexham to the League One title on 111 points.
Blues, who were unbeaten across their two meetings with Wrexham last season, have since flexed their might in the market as well.
Chris Davies’ men, who oversaw the arrival of Jay Stansfield from Fulham last year for a League One transfer record that could reach £20million, have since signed Tommy Doyle on a season-long loan deal from Wolves and sealed Demarai Gray’s return.
Kesler, who held a role on the EFL board as the Championship’s representative last summer, assessed the state of play for both sides.
The Turkish businessman was the right-hand man of Hull owner and chairman Acun Ilicali following his takeover at the MKM Stadium in January 2022, and helped transform the Tigers into a team that narrowly missed out on the play-off spots on the final day under former boss Liam Rosenior.
He exclusively told talkSPORT.com: “I think they’re two different cases in my opinion, especially Birmingham, when they were relegated, they took full advantage of the financial regulations being more flexible in League One.
Reynolds and McElhenney’s aim to globalise the club goes further this summerGetty Birmingham spent £25 million during the 2024 summer window on 17 new playersGetty“And they tried to invest financially heavily in talent and kind of make their way up to the Championship.
“Wrexham’s strategy was quite unique, I think, for everyone that they kind of based on content creating and then maximising their revenue streams and using them very wisely on a progressive basis to promote all the way to the championship.
“The future, I mean, the Championship is a very, very competitive league. So I do see some challenges with the Wrexham organisation, but at the same time, they can turn that to their advantage as well with their business model.
“For Birmingham, I think now they have the resources to invest in international talents and high-level talents based on the way they play.
“If they can convince the players to come in, I think they will just be a very big competitive competition for the Championship.
“But this year, honestly, it’s going to be one of the hardest seasons of the Championship because all these clubs are so valuable, so focused, and the competition is going to be hard to predict.”
Phil Parkinson has drafted in a Manchester United academy productGettySimon Jordan recently made the bold prediction that Birmingham and Wrexham could become Premier League sides in the next two seasons.
However, Tan, who left Hull in October and is now CEO, vice-president and minority shareholder at Polish top-flight club Pogon Szczecin, argued that Blues are better equipped to reach England’s elite.
He continued: “Some clubs, like in the Championship, there’s always a situation where you feel like you’re set up as an organisation, as football philosophy or the community.
“But again, I’m coming back to the Championship being one of the hardest leagues in the world. So, yes, on paper, yes.
“But they will have challenges, in my opinion, as well.
“Wrexham seems like they’re more modest. But, you know, look, Oxford United did fantastically last season, Luton promoted two years ago, now relegated.
“Obviously, relegation is not an example, but for their promotion, they were in the playoffs the year before.
“So this is the beauty of the league. And it definitely would happen.”
Kesler impressed during the nearly three years at Hull as vice-chairmanGettyConsidering his love for the second division, could Tan be tempted back to English football in the future?
“I mean, I love the club. I love Pogon. I love the fans,” Tan told talkSPORT. “It’s an amazing environment in here where we’re selling out every game, so it’s quite exciting.
“I think my journey started here very early, but at some point in England, I do believe that there’s something that I need to complete that I left.
“And therefore, to give you my honest opinion, I always have my heart in England at some point, whether it’s with the new ownership, whether it’s just with a new project or our own investment.
“I look forward, but at the same time, this is just a longer discussion to be made.
“Currently, I’m really fighting hard and spending all my effort and time for our club to be successful and sustainable.”
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