A former England and Premier League star is set to earn a whopping £500,000 just to watch his team from the sidelines, after he was ruthlessly axed from Wrexham’s Championship squad just nine months after joining.
The Red Dragons, who are owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have enjoyed a meteoric rise up the English Football League since their takeover in 2021.
With the club languishing in the National League, England’s fifth football tier, Wrexham supporters have seen three consecutive promotions and are now back competing in the Championship, just one level below the prestigious and cash-rich Premier League.
With such a dramatic change in league position, the squad has been subject to major overhaul. Wrexham saw 21 players depart and join the club this summer, as the side looked to improve their squad and fit in with the stricter Championship registration rules.
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Jay Rodriguez, 36, joined the Welsh side in January on a free transfer from Burnley, as boss Phil Parkinson looked to bolster his attacking options to secure their promotion back to the Championship.
The former Southampton man failed to impress, though, finding the back of the net just twice in 17 league appearances.
Jay Rodriguez is set to earn a whopping £500,000 just to watch his team from the sidelines, after he was ruthlessly axed from Wrexham’s Championship squad just nine months after joining
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Rodriguez had made 20 appearances for Burnley in the Championship last year before his move to north Wales, but has now been deemed surplus to requirements by Parkinson.
The forward started every League One game after his arrival in January.
Jay Rodriguez has scored just twice since joining Wrexham in January
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While League One rules state that goalkeepers do not have to be registered, Championship rules differ, meaning that there is less room for outfield players.
With Wrexham naming their 24-man squad earlier this month, Rodriguez was confirmed as one of the four senior members that had been left out, along with former Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward, Andy Cannon and Ollie Rathbone.
Ollie Rathbone looks set to take the final spot in Wrexham's squad
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Boss Parkinson has a single remaining slot to add one of the aforementioned absentees, but it is the latter that appears set to join up with the squad.
“We need Ollie [Rathbone] back, he’s a key player for us,” the 57-year-old said. “He was instrumental for us last year. He’s a player who has played in the Championship; first year did well, second one was a difficult one at Rotherham because they had a very weak squad.
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“But he’s played at this level and when he signed for us, he was determined to get back into the Championship… His energy and his quality, I can’t wait to get Ollie back out with us.”
With Rodriguez reportedly earning £25,000 a week at the Racecourse Ground, and Wrexham unable to re-register him until January at the earliest, he is set to earn a whopping £500,000 in the meantime.
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Phil Parkinson opted against picking Jay Rodriguez for his Championship squad
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The former Burnley star had been available to play during August and will be again in January, as registration rules do not apply during transfer windows.
Rodriguez made his name at Southampton, where he racked up over 100 appearances and even earned himself a solitary cap for England against Chile in 2013.
A devastating ACL injury scuppered his chances of making it to the 2014 World Cup, while he saw his form on his return to the pitch dramatically decline.
Wrexham have also endured a difficult opening on their return to the Championship, finding themselves in 15th with seven points from a possible 18.
Goalscoring does not seem to be an issue, though, with the north Wales side finding the net on 11 occasions already.
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