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The Minister for Culture has defended the allocation of an £18 million public grant to Wrexham AFC for the development of their stadium. This funding will be used to construct a new 5,500-capacity Kop stand at the club’s home ground, Stadiwm Cae Ras. Despite the club’s ownership by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Jack Sargeant emphasized that the investment is intended to help “transform Wrexham,” highlighting the broader impact on the local community.
Addressing recent criticism during an appearance on Politics Wales, Sargeant remarked, “We’ve seen Wrexham on the up because of the football and because of the community around it.” The grant, provided jointly by the Welsh government and the local council, forms part of a comprehensive regeneration plan aimed at revitalizing the area. According to Wrexham AFC, improvements will not only include the new stand but also enhancements to stadium infrastructure such as the floodlights and pitch, enabling the venue to meet the standards required to host international sporting events.
The club currently competes in the Championship, one tier below the Premier League. Wrexham AFC has stated that these developments will contribute to job creation and generate economic benefits by attracting more visitors through various events. Nonetheless, the decision to use public funds for this project has been met with some opposition. Football finance expert Stefan Borson told the BBC it was “unusual” for public money to be invested in an endeavor that appears commercially viable.
In a separate discussion, Minister Sargeant also addressed ongoing challenges in Welsh rugby amid plans by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to reduce the number of professional teams from four to three by 2027. He conveyed confidence in the WRU’s ability to navigate the changes, which involve equal funding allocations of £6.4 million annually for each team, rising to £7.8 million. Sargeant stressed the importance of listening to fans and working closely with communities, stating, “The position of me and as sports minister is wanting the game of rugby in Wales to get to a better place than we currently are.
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