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BBC News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'If you go to the moon, there'd be someone asking, how are Wrexham doing?'
Mickey Thomas says he has never seen football club owners boasting a better relationship with fans than Wrexham's Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob will play in English football's second tier next season for the first time in 43 years after clinching second spot in League One last Dragons have become the first club in the history of England's top five divisions to secure three straight spectacular run has come following the takeover of the club by Reynolds and McElhenney in 2021, when they were a non-league side."What they have done is unique - it's incredible," Wrexham legend Thomas told this week's Feast of Football podcast."The transformation from the National League to where they are now is massive and they have done it in the right way."I have never seen owners of a football club have the association they have with the players but more so with the fans. The connection is unreal."Former Manchester United player Thomas, 70, made his name at Wrexham in the 1970s before returning to the club at the back-end of his career, when he famously scored a spectacular free-kick in a shock FA Cup victory over Arsenal. The ex-Wales international (above) had not met Reynolds and McElhenney until last Saturday's promotion-clinching win over Charlton, when he was invited to the owners' box and then asked to celebrate on the pitch alongside them afterwards."I don't think anyone can really believe what's happened to the football club," Thomas added."Everyone wants to go and watch Wrexham. You can't get a ticket these days."It's not just Wrexham, it's globally. They have captured the whole universe haven't they? I am sure if you go to the moon, there'd be someone there asking 'how are Wrexham doing?'."I didn't see this happening. But what they have done is they have got the right man in charge in Phil Parkinson and the recruitment has been second to none."As Wrexham prepare to compete with some heavyweight clubs in the Championship next season, Thomas says another promotion is not inconceivable."We know they will do well to finish halfway in the Championship or whatever, but you wouldn't put it past them, that they could get automatic promotion next year," he said."You might laugh at that, but you never know with these two guys, everything they touch turns to gold."
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Ramsey should be Cardiff boss next season'
Iwan Roberts says Aaron Ramsey should manage Cardiff City next season regardless of what division the Bluebirds are are fighting to stay in the Championship having won only one of their past 10 league was named caretaker boss following the sacking of Omer Riza last weekend but has suggested he wants to continue playing beyond this Wales captain led Cardiff to a 1-1 draw with Oxford United in his first match in charge on result leaves Cardiff deep in relegation danger in 23rd, three points behind 21st-placed Derby with only Saturday's home game against West Brom and a trip to Norwich City remaining in what has been a miserable Wales striker Roberts says that regardless of what happens in the final week of the season, 34-year-old Ramsey should take charge for the long term."He still wants to play – is his body going to allow him [to do that]? I think this is the natural progression for Aaron with all the injuries he has had for quite a long period," Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast."I think he's ready made to be a head coach. He is ready to go. Whatever happens, I would love him to be in that technical box for Cardiff next season, in the Championship or League One." Roberts says that despite his lack of managerial experience, former Arsenal and Juventus player Ramsey has "all the attributes" required to be Cardiff boss."He looks like a manager, he sounds like a manager, he talks like a manager," he added."He is an intelligent young man. He is in the process of getting his coaching qualifications."He has played for some outstanding managers at the clubs he's been at. I think he's definitely one for the future."Roberts believes Ramsey could yet guide Cardiff to safety – but reckons only two victories will give them a survival chance."It's become desperate," he said."The daft thing is, I think if they can win their last two, I still think they have got a chance of staying up."
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Sheehan very much a Steve Cooper-type'
Iwan Roberts says Swansea City caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan reminds him of the club's former boss Steve were glancing nervously towards the Championship relegation places when Sheehan replaced Luke Williams in Sheehan's team have since taken 23 points from 11 matches to climb to within six points of the play-off spots with two games remaining this the former Nottingham Forest and Leicester City boss, began his senior club managerial career at Swansea, leading the Welsh club to the Championship play-offs in 2020 and 2021."Sheehan has done an unbelievable job," Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast."All right they are not spectacular - he is not the stat-packed manager that we see in the modern era."He is low-risk. I think that's why the two centre-halves are playing ever so well. They will still get it from the goalkeeper, but if there's any risk, it goes. They get it wide, they get early crosses in. The goalkeeper is not afraid to put his foot through the ball."Sheehan reminds me very much of a Steve Cooper-type head coach. He makes sure he gets his defensive shape solid so they don't concede." Swansea go in search of a sixth straight victory at Millwall on Monday's 2-1 success at Queens Park Rangers means the club are on their longest winning league run since 2007."They have got an edge to them. They look like they have got hunger, energy," Roberts added."The two boys in midfield, [Goncalo] Franco and Lewis O'Brien, I am not sure if I have seen a harder-working midfield duo."They look a different side."
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Wrexham must wish Fletcher was four years younger'
Iwan Roberts says Wrexham must be wishing Steven Fletcher was younger after the former Scotland international's midweek winner at Huddersfield came off the bench to score the only goal at the John Smith's Stadium as Wrexham maintained the pressure on second-placed Wycombe Wanderers in the push for automatic promotion to the was the 37-year-old's seventh goal of the season, making him Wrexham's joint-top scorer in League One this season alongside attacking midfielder Elliot Lee and defender Max is despite the fact that just two of Fletcher's 28 league appearances this season have been starts."It's just a shame Steven Fletcher isn't four years younger," former Wales striker Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast."Once again he came on, he gets things down, holds the ball up, little touches with the outside of his foot and he is a livewire in the box."Fletcher came on for another experienced forward, Jay Rodriguez, at former England player is yet to score in six league appearances since joining Wrexham from Burnley in has been playing alongside fellow mid-season signing Sam Smith, who has scored once in his six Wrexham league games to date. "They were the two big signings in January, even though Rodriguez came on a free, [he is on] big wages," Roberts added."Sam Smith is an absolute workaholic - doesn't give you a minute's peace."But it is not quite working for them at the minute. In the first half [at Huddersfield], they seemed to be miles apart, playing like total strangers."When you play with five at the back, it gives you a chance to play with two up front. They are just too far apart. They should be between 10 and 15 yards from each other."The arrivals of Smith and Rodriguez have seen the likes of Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer fall down the pecking order under Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson."When you think, he has binned Ollie Palmer," Roberts said."I am not saying he is the answer – he's only scored three goals all season. Paul Mullin can't get in the team."You have Jack Marriott coming back from his long-term injury. He is still getting up to speed."But I guess as long as they are winning games, it doesn't really matter who is scoring."
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vokes agrees with Parkinson's League One claim
Wycombe Wanderers striker Sam Vokes has backed Phil Parkinson's suggestion that League One is as strong as it has ever been. Wrexham boss Parkinson made the claim after seeing his side lose at home to Leyton Orient in midweek. That defeat leaves Wrexham third in the table, five points behind second-placed Wycombe as they prepare for a trip to Mansfield Town on Sunday. Veteran ex-Wales international Vokes, who made his first Wycombe appearance since August last weekend, says the style of football has changed in the third tier. "The way football is moving in general, I think the quality that's dripping down the levels is so high," he told this week's Feast of Football podcast. "You only have to go back a few years and you see a lot more teams going back to front more. "I am not saying [changing] that improves football necessarily, but it improves the standard of players playing at that level because of the way teams are playing out from the back. It's very much a more tactical game than physical game in League One now. "You look at the money spent by the Wrexhams, the Huddersfields and the Birminghams. The transfer fees being asked for at this level now are huge." Wrexham are in need of a boost at Mansfield having lost four of their past eight league games. Wycombe, meanwhile, are at home to Wgan on Saturday having lost only once since the turn of the year. "I think everyone in the top half really back themselves for a run to get into the play-offs," Vokes added. "Teams at the bottom are picking up points too, so I would definitely agree it's a strong league this year."
