Wrexham hit out at ‘disturbing’ online abuse of potential manager candidates

Potential candidates to take over as manager at Wrexham AFC are being subjected to “disturbing” online abuse, it’s been revealed.

Humphrey Ker, the executive director of the club now owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, apologised to the victims of the trolls.

He said the abuse was “not welcome” at Wrexham and urged the keyboard warriors to stop.

The statement from Mr Ker came after Casey Stoney slammed online bullies for sending her abusive messages after speculation linking her to the role at Wrexham.

The former Manchester United manager, who has more than 100 England caps, took to Twitter to hit back at the trolls.

The 39-year-old, who left the Red Devils in May, sarcastically described them as “lovely people” and told them to not take things so seriously.

She wrote: “For the lovely people on here that are abusing me for even being linked with a job in the men’s game please do yourself a favour & lower your blood pressure.

The club launched a search for a new manager after Dean Keates and his backroom team were axed following the club’s failure to reach the National League play-offs.

The Dragons missed out on a top-seven spot after drawing 1-1 at Dagenham last Saturday.

Keates, his assistant Andy Davies and first-team coach Carl Darlington were all out of contract this summer and were informed their deals were not being renewed.

Mr Ker said: “The Wrexham AFC board is committed to returning the Club to the EFL at the earliest opportunity and are currently running a process to find a manager who will be best suited to achieve this objective.

“We have a formal process in place and are hugely encouraged by the quality of the candidates who have put themselves forward already.

“However, we are disturbed by the abuse aimed at potential candidates on social media and would like to apologise to them on behalf of the club.

“As the overwhelming majority of our fans will agree – this type of behaviour is not welcome at Wrexham AFC and we will continue to work with the rest of football to make online abuse a thing of the past.”

‘Strategy’ 

Les Reed, a former Director of Football and Vice-Chairman at Southampton who has coached at every level of the game, both nationally and internationally, has been brought in to create a football strategy for the club and to help identify a new manager.

Reed’s role with Wrexham AFC will be combined with other consultancy positions.

Among those being touted as the next manager are former Liverpool star Nigel Clough, son of legendary manager Brian Clough, ex-Wales boss Mark Hughes, who made his name playing for Manchester United.

Wrexham’s new chief executive Fleur Robinson would have seen how Clough junior worked during his two spells in charge at Burton, the club she has left to be part of Wrexham Football Club’s dream team.

Clough is currently the manager of Mansfield Town and during his reign at Burton Albion, he took them from non-league to Football League during his first spell with The Brewers, something Wrexham’s new owners are keen to emulate.