Wrexham 'at risk' as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney plan hangs in the balance leaving players in limbo

Wrexham have received a decision on one of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's major plans for the club.

The Red Dragons are currently busy in the transfer window after earning back-to-back promotions to League One following the Hollywood duo purchasing the club.

Wrexham secured their first deal of the summer when they signed Arthur Okonkwo on a three-year deal after he left Arsenal on a free transfer following a successful loan spell last season.

More signings followed in Lewis Brunt and George Dobson but plenty of work is being done off the field too, with Reynolds and McElhenney aiming to bring a significant upgrade to Wales.

Wrexham are determined to upgrade their academy status in the hopes of luring the country's best young talent to the club to be developed, and a ruling has been made following a four-day audit at the club.

Initially, it was reported by The Athletic that Wrexham's application for Category Three academy status was rejected, but it was later updated with the news they had been given additional time to bring their facilities up to the required standard.

Extra work is required following an audit by the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) with the club seeking an alternative base to house their academy.

If their application is ultimately rejected, it leaves Wrexham in a difficult situation. They would only be able to operate teams from Under-17 level upwards meaning youngsters who had signed up for the lower age groups would be left in limbo for the 2024/25 season.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have ambitions to transform the academy (Getty)

Wrexham had hoped to spend their first year in the EFL with their fourth tier youth set-up before stepping it up again this summer.

Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) rules state Category 1, 2 and 3 academies can register players from under-nines to professionals while Category 4 can only operate from U17 level as they are regarded solely as a late-development model.

Speaking last year after applying for their Category 4 status, executive director Humphrey Ker highlighted it was an aim of both Reynolds and McElhenney to attract more local players to the club with a strong academy.

He said: "Ever since the takeover of the football club, Rob and Ryan have been clear in their ambition to build a sustainable model for success, as well as reinforcing the legacies and traditions of Wrexham.

"As a club, we've missed out on the opportunity to sign lots of local talent, including the likes of Neco Williams, Harry Wilson and Tom Lawrence, as we've not had the infrastructure to support their development going forward. This will now change. We have ambitious and exciting plans to build an infrastructure capable of nurturing north Wales' finest talents."