Ex-Premier League ace eats his words on live TV as Wrexham star makes Ryan Reynolds vow
Ex-Premier League ace eats his words on live TV as Wrexham star makes Ryan Reynolds vow
Wrexham have won a third successive promotion by finishing second in League One, and one of the Red Dragons' players has had the last laugh over a TV pundit's pre-season prediction
Wrexham star Ollie Palmer made Nigel Reo-Coker eat his words
(Image:)
A former Premier League footballer has apologised on live TV for underestimating Wrexham's potential to escape from League One.
Ex-Aston Villa and West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker shared scepticism about Phil Parkinson's team securing a remarkable third consecutive promotion at the beginning of the 2024-25 season. The CBS Sports pundit was later left red-faced as Wrexham clinched automatic promotion to the Championship in April.
Reo-Coker has now extended his apologies to the club's supporters after the Red Dragons finished second in League One. Wrexham striker Ollie Palmer urged the 41-year-old to make amends during the American networks' broadcast of the League Two play-off final between AFC Wimbledon and Walsall.
Reo-Coker said: "I didn't think Wrexham would get promoted again. I didn't think it would be a [case of] back-to-back-to-back. I apologise Wrexham fans. Yes, you proved me wrong."
Despite external doubts, Palmer disclosed that Wrexham's higher-ups held a quiet confidence about gaining promotion from League One before the season. However, their optimism was not broadly publicised as they aimed to handle expectations.
Palmer said: "I think a lot of people didn't expect us to do it. I think we were tipped to be around mid-table. I get that, but that's the beauty of football. We achieved something really special, and it was a privilege to be a part of it.
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Nigel Reo-Coker has apologised to Wrexham fans after doubting their chances of promotion
(Image: CBS Sports )
"A lot's changed at the football club. The gaffer kept it in house and said that if we can keep doing what we're doing, he would accept nothing less than automatics. That was the demand he put on us, and we kept that quiet.
"But as it came to the end of the season, that was the only option. We did it, and we created history. It was an amazing moment."
Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have reiterated their ambition to take the club to the Premier League following their recent promotion.
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But Reo-Coker believes that reaching such heights next season is premature, labelling the Championship as "different gravy" compared to League One.
Palmer, however, isn't dismissing the prospect of a remarkable fourth consecutive promotion, drawing attention to the precedent set by Luton and Ipswich. Both teams have previously managed successive promotions from League One to the Premier League.
The 33-year-old is also confident that Reynolds and McElhenney will invest the necessary funds to ensure Wrexham are contenders in the next division during the summer transfer window.
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Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'.
But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in...
Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
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"I know doing four is ridiculous and I'm not saying that," Palmer said. "But if you look at Luton, did they do that? Didn't they go back-to-back? We've got backing where the club wants to go again.
"I'm not trying to put pressure on the lads and I should probably stop talking, but all I'm trying to say is, we could take inspiration from Luton and Ipswich.
"The gaffer and the owners are going to invest and improve the squad, there's no doubt about that. If you say that you're riding the wave then maybe [it could happen]."
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