League Two's highest-profile club have been ruffling a few feathers recently – and that's unlikely to stop any time soon
Wrexham were in scintillating form heading into their trip to the Wham Stadium to face Accrington Stanley on Saturday. Following their infamous 5-0 defeat to runaway League Two leaders Stockport County, Phil Parkinson's side reacted like champions, stitching together an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
This period included a massive 2-0 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Notts County, an occasion that Parkinson confessed was among the best days he's ever had as a manager. High praise indeed, considering he's been involved in the profession for two decades.
However, that incredible run of results came to a screeching halt in Lancashire this weekend, with Accrington securing a 2-0 victory. It wasn't just the result that was frustrating either. Both of the hosts' goals were the result of questionable refereeing decisions, while Paul Mullin also missed a penalty at the end after being psyched out by madcap goalkeeper Jon McCracken.
As if this wasn't enough, Wrexham also attracted controversy away from the field, with Accrington chairman Andy Holt unleashing a flurry of fury towards the club's Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Getty ImagesAccrington spring nasty surprise
The seed of the dispute was Accrington's decision to raise ticket prices for the visiting Wrexham fans. Typically, the club had charged £20 ($25) for an adult ticket this season. But for the Red Dragons' trip, both sets of supporters were asked to fork out £25 ($31).
Variable pricing models are nothing new in football. Most clubs operate this way, with Wrexham supporters experiencing a £2 increase on Stockport County's typical rates when they visited Edgeley Park back in September.
It may be the norm, but that does not make it any less frustrating for Red Dragons fans who travel to watch their team every other week. And, after a slow build-up of annoyance over the situation, the club finally issued a response of sorts.
AdvertisementWrexham issue defiant response
Four hours before kick off at the Wham Stadium, the club released the following statement: "In response to Accrington Stanley's decision to increase the matchday price by £5 from that previously charged at Wham Stadium for league games this season, we have decided to reduce the price of matchday tickets by £5 for the return game at the STōK Cae Ras on 02/03/2024."
The response from many quarters was predictably positive. At the time of writing, the post has attracted just under 20,000 likes on X, with plenty of praise being sent Reynolds and McElhenney's way for the gesture.
"Classy response instead of charging their fans more," one user wrote. "Class. Something that would never EVER happen in American sports," another said.
A string of messages were also sent to Accrington chairman Andy Holt, the public face of the decision to raise prices on Saturday. "Classy this from Wrexham and really showing up @AndyhHolt for his ridiculous decision to charge the Wrexham Tax," one supporter said.
Holt explodes on social media
Holt is not someone to take criticism quietly, though. Over the years the Accrington chairman has used his X account to comment on all manner of issues, including football governance, the Conservative Party's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the EFL's poor management of its clubs. He also recently announced the club was up for sale through social media – a refreshingly open if slightly odd move.
X (AndyhHolt)
Now, Wrexham were in his crosshairs. His fightback began politely enough, with Holt writing: "If there was only a couple of hundred of you today I’d be happy to do the same. Unfortunately costs are very high for this game. Big policing bills and stewarding big stewarding costs [sic]. I appreciate what @Wrexham_AFC are doing for our fans though."
As more criticism flooded in, Holt clearly lost patience, sarcastically replying to one supporter and then asking why Wrexham had opted to announce their ticket-price reduction so close to kick-off time.
Just before things got going, he posted: "When costs are already high @Wrexham_AFC the last thing football needs is stupid mistimed statements. It’s surprising how stupid given a former CEO of @EFL is employed by you. Let’s have a great day for all fans safely, whatever the outcome on the pitch. Welcome to @ASFCofficial."
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Getty/GOALWrexham fans prove Holt right?
One of Holt's main justifications for hiking prices was the increased stewarding and policing costs incurred by having almost 2,500 Wrexham fans taking over the Wham Stadium.
And it could be argued that his fears were realised during a fractious encounter. Wrexham's travelling contingent made up just under half of the entire crowd and, according to reports, not all of them were well-behaved.
During the second half, after home goalkeeper McCracken collided with Mullin, a small section of supporters reacted angrily, apparently throwing vapes and small bottles of alcohol onto the pitch. There was then a delay while the surface was cleared of projectiles, with police even claiming that one of the objects struck the Accrington No.1.
Although the vast majority of those who travelled were well behaved, this incident did seem to justify Holt's claims that the additional supporters incurred costs that had to be covered by the increase in ticket price.