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Daily Mirror
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ryan Reynolds told he's wasted £4m as Wrexham deals ripped to shreds - 'Not done a thing'
Wrexham new boys Conor Coady and Kieffer Moore have had major doubts raised about their recent track records after being signed for £2million each by the Red Dragons Wrexham have been warned that two of their new big money signings could be over the hill. The Red Dragons have been on a spending spree this summer after gaining promotion to the Championship in April. Manager Phil Parkinson has recruited eight players during the current transfer window. Six new faces started in Wrexham 's opening game at Southampton on Saturday, which ended in a dramatic 2-1 defeat for the Welsh club. Parkinson's side took the lead in the first half through a Josh Windass penalty, but late goals from Ryan Manning and Jack Stephens saw the Saints grab victory. Wrexham's two latest arrivals, former Leicester defender Conor Coady and ex- Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore, were both in the starting XI at St. Mary's after being bought for £2million each. The arrival of two players with plenty of Premier League and Championship experience between them has largely been seen as a positive by supporters. However, former Wales striker Iwan Roberts has criticised the signing of the pair after raising major doubts about their recent track records. The ex-Leicester and Norwich frontman labelled Coady as being "past his prime", while questioning Moore's goalscoring abilities. The latter has already suffered a setback after being taken off with an ankle ligament injury during the second half of Wrexham's loss at Southampton. Speaking on the BBC's Feast of Football podcast, Roberts said: "I'm not too sure of these two signings if I'm being totally honest with you. He (Coady) hasn't done a thing at Leicester for two years. "If you ask any Leicester fan if they will lose sleep over losing Conor Coady, and they've got £2million for him, they will say that no, they won't. "He hardly kicked the ball in the season when they won the Championship. Last season, he was involved in 22 Premier League games in the second-worst defence in the league. I think he's past his prime." He added: "I do a Monday night programme at the King Power looking back at the weekend's fixtures. I think in that first season, he was on that show more than he was playing for Leicester." Coady has made nearly 200 Premier League appearances in his career, having turned out for Wolves, Everton, and Leicester. The 32-year-old centre-back arrived in North Wales after Wrexham fought off interest from Scottish giants Rangers to secure his signature. Moore scored five goals in 27 appearances for Sheffield United in the second tier last season as they narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight after losing to Sunderland in the play-off final. The 33-year-old is another player with Premier League pedigree from his time at Bournemouth, but Roberts doesn't believe he is prolific enough in front of goal. "With the Kieffer one, he's 33 and in the third-best team in the league in Sheffield [United] last season, he only scored five goals in 27 appearances," he said. "I think he works a little bit too hard outside the width of the penalty box. "He's six foot five and is an absolute specimen. I feel bad saying this, because he's been unbelievable for Wales. But I watch him in the penalty box and when the ball's coming down the right hand side, he drifts to the middle of the goal. "I'm screaming, 'Stay out, let the ball cross in, and then go and attack it.' For me, he gets caught underneath the ball when the ball's crossed. Then it's a battle with the centre half and who's the strongest." Roberts added: "I don't think that at six foot five, he uses all this physicality and all his natural attributes to score enough goals with his head, but it could be a different story if he's got a partner to play with." Wrexham's next game sees them take on Hull City at home in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening. Parkinson's side will then face West Brom at the Racecourse in their latest league fixture on Saturday. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage 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.
Daily Mirror
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ryan Reynolds handed 'brutal reality' over Wrexham's transfers as clear problem emerges
Wrexham's busy summer transfer window has sparked concern as they still need to offload players on big contracts, risking a bloated squad amid the EFL's 25-man rule Wrexham have been warned they could struggle to offload members of their bloated squad after signing six new players. The Red Dragons have had a busy summer after securing promotion from League One at the end of last season. Manager Phil Parkinson has brought in Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie, Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward and Empoli defender Liberato Cacace as he gears up for life in the Championship. Bolton skipper George Thomason, Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien and Sheffield Wednesday forward Josh Windass have also arrived during the transfer window. The Welsh side are now in talks to recruit Ipswich forward Nathan Broadhead for a club-record fee of £7.5million, thanks to the financial backing of club owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Wrexham's transfer business has left many of their rivals, including Birmingham investor Tom Brady, looking nervously over their shoulders. However, they have now been told they could face a problem as they strive to move on players who are surplus to requirements, with many tied to lucrative long-term contracts. Under EFL rules, teams can register up to 25 players, including goalkeepers, while under-21s are exempt. Wrexham currently have 30 contracted senior players on their books. Former Wales striker Sam Vokes suggested they may find it challenging to trim those numbers after sounding a note of caution about the unintended consequences of their recent success, which has seen them achieve three consecutive promotions. Speaking on the BBC's Feast of Football podcast, the ex- Premier League player said: "It's unlike anything we've seen in football before with the meteoric rise they've had over the last three years. A lot of those players [who joined] in the National League and in League Two would have signed two or three-year deals. "Of course, Wrexham would have dreamt of getting to where they're getting to, but they probably didn't think they'd be keeping all of those players in the third year under a Championship contract. "Now those players aren't leaving anywhere, because even if they're League One or League Two players, they aren't getting that money anywhere else." There have been some exits at Wrexham this summer, with star striker Paul Mullin making a surprise move to Wigan on loan after being frozen out of the team during the second half of last season. Meanwhile, winger Luke Bolton has left for Mansfield, centre-back Will Boyle has joined Shrewsbury and goalkeeper Luke McNicholas has been snapped up by Forest Green, all on permanent deals. But Vokes' concerns were also echoed on the podcast by another former Wales international. Ex- Norwich striker Iwan Roberts said there was no incentive for players on high salaries to move on and potentially earn less elsewhere. "The brutal reality is that Wrexham were happy to give them those big contracts that they're on," he said. "Now, they may be surplus to requirements, and maybe the club thinks their future should be elsewhere. But there's no reason why the lads should walk away from the type of wages that they're earning at Wrexham." One player who could be set for a loan move away from the Racecourse Ground is left wing-back Jacob Mendy. The Gambia international only made four appearances in League One last season, with three of those coming off the bench. Speaking to the BBC about Mendy's future this week, Parkinson said: "Everybody knows the numbers situation is there. It's a 25-man squad, including the goalkeepers. I've just spoken to Jacob Mendy about that. We need Jacob to go and play this season for himself. "There's a few players in that category. I'm just mentioning Jacob because I've just been speaking to him. There's several clubs who want to take him on loan. One thing we've always tried to do is be fair to all the players because a lot of those lads have done so well for us." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage 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.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Where can I watch Sunday's Euro 2025 final?
Euro 2025 has brought us a summer of fierce competition and fantastic football. After a nail-biting quarter-final and semi-final, defending champions England will battle it out against Spain on Sunday to see who will lift the trophy. Even if you can't get to Switzerland, there are lots of ways you can soak up the match-day atmosphere in your local area or even from the comfort of your own home. Here's our guide to watching the game. Where to watch in England? Kick-off is at 17:00 BST on Sunday 27 July. Check out big-screen venues across the country, like Corner Corner in Canada Water, London, BoxPark in Croydon, Wembley, Shoreditch, Camden and Liverpool, TOCA Social in Birmingham's Bullring, London's O2 and White City as well as Manchester's Freight Island and AO Arena. You may want to check your local BBC Weather forecast to see if you should bring a raincoat or pack your suncream. Football clubs, pubs, bars, beer halls, yards and other local venues will be showing the match, so check social media to find out what might be going on in your area. Pubs are allowed to stay open an extra two hours on the day of the final - meaning they can keep serving until 01:00 on Monday. For something family-friendly, check out things like the National Football Museum's free watch party in Manchester, which has crafts and activities for children on the night. Of course, there's always the option to grab some flags and snacks and throw your own party at home. How can I watch the match at home? The final will be shown on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and ITV on Sunday 27 July, with the BBC coverage starting at 15:40. Gabby Logan will be presenting live from Basel with former Lionesses Alex Scott and Jill Scott pitchside. On radio, you can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live with Katie Smith from 16:00. Follow every minute on the BBC Sport website and app, with live match reports, key moment clips, highlights, interviews and analysis. And don't forget podcasts on BBC Sounds to help get your football fix, including Football Daily and Feast of Football. Can I still get match tickets? The St Jakob Park stadium in Basel has a capacity of about 38,000 people - 52,000 fewer seats than Wembley Stadium, where the Euro 2022 final was held. The last time we checked the UEFA website, there were no tickets or resales left, though they may be available on other resale platforms. But if you happen to be in Switzerland without tickets, you can still catch all the action from the fan zones in Basel, Bern, Geneva and Zurich city centres. Organisers say they offer a "packed schedule of activities for all ages", with live screenings of matches, concerts, workshops and child-friendly football pitches.
Powys County Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Lois Joel expects ‘extra bit of rivalry' when Wales face England in Euros clash
Wales defender Lois Joel expects facing England at Euro 2025 will inevitably infuse 'an extra bit of rivalry' into their final group-stage clash. Tournament newcomers Wales, who lost their opening matches in Switzerland to the Netherlands and France, are all but eliminated from the competition, needing to beat Sarina Wiegman's defending champions by four goals or more and requiring the Netherlands to lose to France in order to avoid an exit. Stalwart Jess Fishlock, 38, made history in Wednesday's 4-1 defeat to France, becoming the first Welsh woman to score at a major tournament in a contest that also saw Joel make her major tournament debut in the 78th minute in St Gallen. 'We don't really need any added motivation,' said Joel, when asked by BBC Sport Wales' Feast of Football podcast if facing England would give them an extra spark. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Newcastle United Women (@newcastleunitedwomen) 'Just playing for Wales and representing the shirt, you want to win every game. When it's against England, it gives that extra bit of rivalry, and we can't wait to get out there. 'We've grown in momentum, we've grown in belief, and we think we can put on a really good competitive performance.' Group D, widely characterised as this championship's 'group of death', would be a tough introduction to major tournament football for anyone, let alone Wales, who are the lowest-ranked side in the competition. #WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 9, 2025 England, arguably, should be the most challenging opponent yet after losses to 2017 champions the Netherlands and 2022 semi-finalists France. 'We want to stay in the competition as long as we can,' added the 26-year-old Newcastle defender. 'But our goal is to not make this be the only major tournament we have, and to create a legacy beyond this tournament in Wales and have a meaningful impact. 'I think we've done that quite well and inspired a generation, hopefully, of young girls to keep playing and get to where we have.'
Leader Live
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Lois Joel expects ‘extra bit of rivalry' when Wales face England in Euros clash
Tournament newcomers Wales, who lost their opening matches in Switzerland to the Netherlands and France, are all but eliminated from the competition, needing to beat Sarina Wiegman's defending champions by four goals or more and requiring the Netherlands to lose to France in order to avoid an exit. Stalwart Jess Fishlock, 38, made history in Wednesday's 4-1 defeat to France, becoming the first Welsh woman to score at a major tournament in a contest that also saw Joel make her major tournament debut in the 78th minute in St Gallen. 'We don't really need any added motivation,' said Joel, when asked by BBC Sport Wales' Feast of Football podcast if facing England would give them an extra spark. A post shared by Newcastle United Women (@newcastleunitedwomen) 'Just playing for Wales and representing the shirt, you want to win every game. When it's against England, it gives that extra bit of rivalry, and we can't wait to get out there. 'We've grown in momentum, we've grown in belief, and we think we can put on a really good competitive performance.' Group D, widely characterised as this championship's 'group of death', would be a tough introduction to major tournament football for anyone, let alone Wales, who are the lowest-ranked side in the competition. 🏴 The latest milestone in Jess Fishlock's illustrious career 👏#WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 9, 2025 England, arguably, should be the most challenging opponent yet after losses to 2017 champions the Netherlands and 2022 semi-finalists France. 'We want to stay in the competition as long as we can,' added the 26-year-old Newcastle defender. 'But our goal is to not make this be the only major tournament we have, and to create a legacy beyond this tournament in Wales and have a meaningful impact. 'I think we've done that quite well and inspired a generation, hopefully, of young girls to keep playing and get to where we have.'
