Wrexham missed the chance to top League One last Thursday. Defeat in a hard-fought derby at Shrewsbury Town left them in third place, two points behind the top of the table but three games clear of the leaders at the end of the season.
Birmingham City may be the biggest obstacle to the Red Dragons’ historic third consecutive title. The Blues have had a relatively easy time in first place, having grown significantly since relegation from the Championship.
Wycombe Wanderers’ defeat at Huddersfield Town helped squeeze out the race for the second automatic promotion spot. The Terriers are ready to attack but the reality is that no one can fathom the promotion battle outside of Birmingham until a significant number of games have been played.
Wrexham vs Birmingham could make history one day
Birmingham have the advantage for now but Wrexham are yet to take their eyes off the top prize. And, while both clubs are competing directly against Wycombe, Huddersfield, Barnsley, Reading and Stockport County for both Championship places, they also have some important things in common.
The Blues are part-owned by American financier Tom Wagner, who is chairman of the club and part-owner of Shelby Companies Limited, a subsidiary of Knighthead Investment, which owns Nearly 46% of the football club.
Wrexham FC, majority-owned by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, whose joint venture holds a 95% stake in the company that owns the club, has now received a new Backed by the vast wealth of minority shareholders, the Allyn family.
When it came to minority ownership, Birmingham’s ownership group came into play early on. Wagner has been linked to NFL legend Tom Brady, who became a public figure in the new Birmingham City era despite owning around 3.3% of the club and 100% of a very bad coat.
It was reported last summer that “one of the senior figures at Birmingham City had mooted the idea of ​​a league match with Wrexham in the United States”, but there was actually no agreement between the Blues and the EFL or the Blues and Wrexham. No negotiations took place.
Nonetheless, it is clear that Birmingham’s relegation and Wrexham’s promotion to the third tier have brought together two groups of owners with a keen interest in reforming broadcasting rules and embracing overseas audiences, particularly in the United States.
Even before Wrexham were promoted from the National League, Reynolds and the club were outspoken about the limitations of television and streaming detail. Of course, Wrexham’s rise since the takeover by Reynolds and McElhenny has been documented around the world.
They have enjoyed unusual support around the world and are also popular in the United States. If the Blues do get promoted this season and enjoy increased attention from the Championship, Birmingham chiefs may hope for a similar effect, with Brady undoubtedly returning to the Championship.
Thursday night’s Wrexham clash with Birmingham City will be played in Wrexham, but the idea of ​​moving the game to the United States may be closer to reality when the next fixture comes, regardless of which division it falls in.
The reason is obvious. A smart business strategy would be to watch Birmingham City or Wrexham play across the Atlantic to take advantage of their overseas support. It would be better if both clubs have the same characteristics and intentions. They all certainly tend to think in ways that differ from the established norms of English football.
In football, smart business strategies usually win. If EFL games were to be held in the US, Wrexham’s home game against Birmingham City (if they were in the same division) would be the clear favorite.
But there has been no official statement of interest from either club and they are sure to find North Wales and Little Heath the two hot spots against the idea.
Live fans at both clubs have welcomed foreign ownership and are enjoying the fruits of their investment in players who shouldn’t really be in the First Division. They are less tolerant of racing on water.
Generally speaking, playing England games abroad is an unpopular idea. The proposal for a 39th match in the Premier League was put forward in 2008 and caused a strong reaction not only from fans but also from some club managers.
International matches are also hindered because 20 teams playing 39 games each would make mathematical sense and therefore disrupt the sporting balance of the Premier League season.
Wrexham and Birmingham have both set their sights on the Premier League. If they succeed, the idea of ​​playing one of the more reasonable 38 games elsewhere might be closer to reality.
By then, it may not be number one in the world. The international ownership makeup of England’s top flight has changed since 2008, with the global nature of English football creating lucrative opportunities abroad, often in markets familiar to those owners.
For now, two of the third tier must be content with canceled races at racecourses.
