Newcastle legend Alan Shearer wants to see Wrexham and Birmingham in the Premier League, but believes they’ll find it tougher to compete if both reach the Championship next season
Alan Shearer has admitted he’d enjoy seeing Wrexham and rivals Birmingham City reach the Premier League.
The Welsh side, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are on the cusp of another promotion as they battle for second place in League One, while the Blues have already secured the title.
Both teams could be plying their trade in the Championship next season, and the Newcastle United legend has praised their success. However, he cautioned that fighting for promotion to the top flight would be a lot tougher.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson will no doubt be given money to spend if the Red Dragons do go up, with Reynolds and McElhenney boasting a combined net worth of over £300million. But the BBC pundit also warned the Hollywood stars that their spending power will not have the same impact at the next level.
“I would like to see both Birmingham and Wrexham in the Premier League one day,” Shearer told Betfair. “I think it’s great what’s happening at those football clubs. But I also would be cautious because of what they’ll be able to spend in the Championship.
“It’s very different in League One to what they can come in and do in the Championship. Whether they’ll be able to go on and push on as much as they’d like, or can in terms of financials, is very different now they’ve reached that level.”
The former England striker added: “Wrexham had a great result the other day and Wycombe were beaten 4-0 at home, so that was an incredible result for them. It’s turned the other way towards Wrexham now. Again, two huge football clubs with massive fanbases, both Wrexham and Birmingham.”
Wrexham currently sit two points clear of Wycombe in the race for League One’s second automatic promotion spot. The Red Dragons take on third-placed Charlton on Saturday in a crucial game at the Racecourse Ground.
A win for Wrexham, coupled with Wycombe dropping points at Leyton Orient, would see Phil Parkinson’s side’s promotion confirmed. In January, Shearer cast doubt over whether Reynolds and McElhenney will ever achieve their dream of taking Wrexham to the Premier League.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast alongside co-hosts Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, he suggested financial regulations could prove a major barrier to the club’s ongoing success. Shearer gave his thoughts after a query about Wrexham’s future potential was raised by a lifelong fan of the club.
“I think the answer to that is, we’re not quite sure,” the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer said. “That’s because of how far they’ll be able to go in terms of finance, spending and all of that, because of the PSR (Profitability and Sustainability) rules.”
Match of the Day host Lineker hailed the club’s progress under the A-list owners but also suggested it would be more difficult to compete if they reach the Premier League.
“The higher up you go, to compete with the top teams in the league, the more you need to invest,” the ex-Leicester City striker said. “It’s worked so far, and it depends what their desires are and what their ambitions are.
“They’re already taking one or two other clubs on in different parts of the world in a similar sort of TV project. Once you get right to the upper echelons of, say, Premier League football, then it really does become more challenging, but it has been fascinating to watch.”