Morgan Sindall lands Wrexham Kop contract

Work on the 5,500-seat stand at the Racecourse Ground is set to begin before June, with a goal of construction completing in time for the 2024-2025 season.

Morgan Sindall Construction was chosen as the preferred contractor for the project by the club, which is owned by North American celebrities Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.

According to Shaun Harvey, strategic advisor to Wrexham AFC’s board, Morgan Sindall is working with the Kop design team in preparation for a construction start date.

Wrexham Council approved plans for the new stand in November. The new Kop will be nearly 20 metres taller than its predecessor and includes hospitality and exhibition spaces. It was designed by AFL Architects.

The Wrexham Kop project is part of the wider £100m Wrexham Gateway scheme, which will improve the public transport system in the community and Wrexham General train station, as well as build new homes, offices, student accommodation, a hotel, and a conference facility.

Wrexham Gateway is being delivered through the Wrexham Gateway Partnership, which comprises Wrexham AFC, Wrexham Council, Welsh Government, Glyndwr University, the Football Association for Wales, and Transport for Wales.

The larger project was part of Wrexham Council’s unsuccessful £18m Levelling Up Fund bid.

Harvey acknowledged that the loss of Levelling Up Fund money had stung.

“The decision to reject the grant application was disappointing but we always had a plan B and that is now being progressed with the Gateway Partnership,” he said.

Gateway Partnership has secured £25m for its project from the Welsh government. Harvey said the club and other partners were looking at more funding opportunities.

“The discussions around the funding options will progress over the coming weeks to find the best possible solution among the options available to us,” he said.