The very idea of having a “second team” is something of a nonsense in football but Wrexham are certainly testing that notion among West Ham fans.
It’s going to be all change at West Ham and Wrexham this summer.
The Hammers endured a dismal campaign in which they and several other clubs were fortunate the bottom three were so bad.
Wrexham meanwhile have been in dreamland, winning another promotion to put themselves one step away from the Premier League.
The way things have been going over the last couple of seasons and the trajectory of the Hammers and Red Dragons means they could be swapping divisions at the end of next season if West Ham don’t get their act together.
Big changes at West Ham could pay off for Wrexham
Like Wrexham’s Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, though, Graham Potter is a man with a plan.
Potter is planning a major Hammers overhaul around young, dynamic, hungry stars.
Wrexham may be about to benefit from that too.
The Irons have released Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal and Danny Ings as their contracts expire.
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And two of that experienced quartet are interesting Wrexham.
Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images
Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images
It has been reported that Reynolds wants Cresswell and Ings to join Wrexham for their Championship campaign next season.
Now West Ham fans might have a second team as a cult hero could join the departing duo at Wrexham.
The Welsh side have been heavily linked with the Hammers’ £15m striker flop Ings as they look for guaranteed goals in the second tier.
A deadly finisher when playing regularly, there is even hope Ings might give Wrexham a chance of making the top flight at the first time of asking.
Ings has earned £15m in wages during his two-and-a-half years at West Ham. So taking a wage drop won’t be an issue for the soon-to-be 33-year-old.
West Ham cult hero could join departing duo at Wrexham
Besides, Wrexham have proved they’re willing to pay top dollar to players after reportedly offering Fulham’s Tom Cairney £50k per week to drop down a division.
Ings could be joined at the Racecourse by close friend Cresswell according to the recent reports.
Journalist Alan Nixon claimed the 35-year-old defender is being offered a contract by Reynolds and co after his West Ham exit following 11 years of service.
Cresswell is said to be keen to play on – and proved he is capable in his last few months at West Ham.
It has been stated that Cresswell’s base in Merseyside is a big reason he might ‘fancy a crack at joining the North Wales outfit in the Championship’.
Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
In a reunion that will have West Ham fans taking a trip down memory lane, it’s now being claimed by journalist Nixon that Craig Dawson could join Ings and Cresswell at Wrexham.
‘Ballon Dawson’ – as he is affectionately known by Hammers fans after an unforgettable spell in east London – is a free agent having left Wolves.
Like Cresswell, the big no-nonsense centre-back wants to play on next season and has been linked with Derby.
But Nixon claims Wrexham have a real chance of pulling off a deal to sign the former Hammer as they can offer top wages.
What Nixon doesn’t mention is that Dawson only left West Ham to be closer to his family in the north.
Like with Cresswell, that could also give Wrexham a huge advantage.
Pure Hammers nostalgia in potential Championship reunion
West Ham fans love an underdog story and they don’t come much better than that of ‘Big Daws’.
The defender joined the Hammers as fifth choice centre-back on loan from Championship Watford to a furious reaction from West Ham fans who felt the move lacked ambition.
When injuries handed him a chance in the side, Dawson quickly became a fan favourite, triggering a bargain £1.1m permanent signing before helping the club to sixth and seventh place finishes.
Dawson was hailed West Ham’s King of Lyon after his man of the match performance in a 3-0 win over the Ligue 1 side which put the club in the Europa League semi-finals.
He is the kind of warrior any team would love on their side.
West Ham fans may find themselves watching a lot of the Championship next season if this east London reunion materialises in Wales.