Sale of Racecourse ground to Wrexham AFC completed

This marks the end of the university’s ownership of the stadium which began at a time when the club was struggling.

In the summer of 2011, Glyndwr stepped forward in the club’s hour of need as the only viable purchaser of the stadium, enabling the Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) to concentrate on gaining the ownership of the club itself.

As well as safeguarding the stadium for future generations, the acquisition also provided a top-class facility that provided a range of uses for the university’s students and staff.

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For the first five years, the university took on responsibility for the running, maintenance, and upkeep of the facility, before a 99-year lease was agreed upon with the WST in 2016, with the trust taking on responsibility for the stadium operation.

With the club now owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and it's long-term future secure, the university felt it was the right time to facilitate the club taking ownership of the stadium once again.

David Elcock, Wrexham Glyndwr’s Executive director of finance, said: “It was a great honour for us to have been custodians of the oldest international football stadium in the world.

“In 2011, when the university purchased the stadium, it was not only for the benefit of our students and staff, but also the wider community. It was imperative that the football ground was preserved for the people of Wrexham and further afield.

“It was a huge commitment and civic responsibility for us to undertake, but the purchase was crucial in helping to keep the football club alive during a summer in which the fans raised more than £100,000 in a day just to keep the club in existence.

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“Our previous purchase of land alongside Crispin Lane behind the Kop also removed any potential barriers to developing a new stand in the future.

“More than 10 years on it is time for us to hand the stadium back to the club under its new ownership so they can take forward the exciting developments and improvements they have planned.

“From my earliest conversation with Ryan and Rob it was something they were keen to do, and we were happy to help.”

David added: “After the results of the club’s fans survey, in November ‘21, it became particularly clear to us at the university that there was a huge appetite to see the football club own the stadium again and we have been working towards this moment since then.

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“I want to say a special thank you to Shaun Harvey and Executive Director Humphrey Ker who have both been incredibly helpful and instrumental in ensuring this transfer went smoothly.

“We continue to work with our neighbours at the football club to enable the delivery of a new Kop stand, and an extension to our student accommodation, as we continue to progress with our Campus 2025 project - investing in the very best facilities for our students and staff. We also remain committed to our role in the Wrexham Gateway Partnership which seeks to further enhance our local community.”

Wrexham AFC announced on February 9, 2022, the first anniversary of the takeover by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, that Heads of Terms had been agreed with Wrexham Glyndwr University to purchase the freehold of the Racecourse Ground.

Today a club spokesman said: "With the Racecourse Ground back in the ownership of the club for the first time since August 2011 there is lots to look forward to, including the proposed new Kop Development that would see the stadium return to be a four-sided stadium capable of hosting Wales international fixtures, as well as other sporting events in North Wales.

"More than 94% of the respondents to a club survey in November 2021 confirmed they were happy to see the freehold owned by the club. Rob and Ryan, on behalf of the club, have agreed to include a covenant on the freehold to ensure the Racecourse Ground will remain the home of Wrexham AFC until at least 2115, unless a move away is necessary because the stadium can no longer meet the club’s requirements.

"The club have asked WST Assets Ltd. to surrender the lease for the stadium, as this is no longer required to protect the Racecourse Ground as the permanent home of Wrexham AFC.

"In addition to the financial commitment made by the club towards the Kop Development, financial support is being sought from UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and the completion of the transfer to the club of the freehold significantly increases the deliverability of the project."

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

The co-chairmen said: “This is a great day for both the club and ourselves, and one that we targeted from the first day of our ownership, encouraged by the vote of confidence from the club’s fans in November 2021.

“While day to day, this changes very little for the club, the symbolism of this moment is a massively important step for the club going forward.

“We would like to thank Wrexham Glyndwr University, our neighbours, for the support they have provided the club historically. We look forward to enhancing our already strong working relationship with them.”