Boasting the likes of Paul Mullin, Elliott Lee, and Steven Fletcher among their ranks, the club’s Hollywood takeover by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has really turned its fortunes around.
However, it wasn’t always this way for the Red Dragons’ faithful, who have had to endure their fair share of flops over the years.
Here we take a look back at six players who failed to impress during their time at the Racecourse.
| Wrexham transfer flops | |
|---|---|
| Player | Year signed |
| Ian Rush | 1998 |
| Xavi Valero | 2005 |
| Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls | 2016 |
| Terry Cooke | 1998 |
| Richard Hope | 2007 |
| Lamine Sakho | 2009 |
1Ian Rush
When former European Cup winner Ian Rush joined Wrexham in 1998, it was a move that had the club’s fans watering at the mouth.
However, the Liverpool legend failed to score a single goal in 17 appearances for Brian Flynn’s side.
In his defence, the man regarded as one of the best strikers in the world in his heyday was in the twilight of his career at the age of 37, but it’s fair to say this signing did not live up to the hype.
He was once voted as the club’s worst-ever player in a poll by Four Four Two magazine, as per the Daily Post, although that might have had something to do with the fact he was managing Wrexham’s fierce rivals Chester at the time.
2Xavi Valero
If you Google the name of Xavi Valero these days, you’ll find a man with an impressive CV as a goalkeeping coach at the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, and currently West Ham.
For Wrexham fans, however, the very mention of the Spanish keeper will send shivers down their spines and with good reason.
He was signed by Denis Smith in January 2005 based solely off video footage (never a good sign) and made three less-than-stellar appearances.
After a series of howlers, he was hooked off at half-time during a game against Chesterfield after the club’s two central defenders told Smith they weren’t comfortable playing with him.
Some good came of the situation as it resulted in a young Ben Foster being brought in on loan from Stoke to kick-start his career, before a memorable return in 2023 when he played a key role in Wrexham’s promotion to the Football League.
3Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls
One of the most abject seasons in Wrexham’s recent history came in 2016/17 when Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls was part of the squad.
Fans were left baffled by then manager Gary Mills’s summer signings, not least that of the unknown Birmingham City striker.
When he joined, the youngster outlandishly set himself the target of scoring 20 to 30 goals.
The reality saw him make just three competitive appearances for the club. His final goal tally? Zero.
4Terry Cooke
Midfielder Terry Cooke is probably best known for being the youthful face on the end of the row of Manchester United’s famous ‘Class of 92’ photo.
It’s fair to say his career did not match the same heights as the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs.
Indeed, Cooke struggled to make an impression on loan at Wrexham during 1998.
In a twist of good fortune for the player himself, he later signed for Man City after he played against them during his unsuccessful stint at the Racecourse and enjoyed a better time there.
5Richard Hope
Richard Hope’s name will forever live in infamy for being part of the team when Wrexham were relegated out of the Football League for the first time in their history.
The defender was signed on a three-year deal by Brian Carey in 2007 off the back of helping rivals Shrewsbury Town to the League Two play-off final.
Despite being made captain, he turned in a series of poor performances during his 35 league and cup appearances in a disastrous season for Wrexham.
He was later transfer-listed following the club’s relegation to non-league football and went on to join Grimsby Town.
6Lamine Sakho
During the infancy of his managerial career, Dean Saunders made some questionable signings.
The arrival of former Senegal international Lamine Sakho initially brought a touch of glamour to the Racecourse in 2009 as he turned up in a huge Hummer.#
That was about as good as it got, however, as he scored just the one goal for Wrexham.
He’s mostly remembered for a vicious headbutt which saw him sent off in a game against Hayes and Yeading.
He swiftly apologised to Saunders but had his contract terminated by mutual consent in March 2010 after failing to make an impact.
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