Peter Moore: Wrexham Building a Premier League-Ready Club

Peter Moore, the former chief executive of Liverpool, believes that Wrexham AFC is actively constructing a club capable of competing at the Premier League level. Moore, who has served as a strategic advisor to the Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, sees Wrexham’s current trajectory as a testament to their ambitious project.

Moore’s perspective comes from his dual involvement in football, currently acting as a co-owner and strategic advisor for Wisla Krakow, a Polish top-flight club. This weekend, he will witness firsthand the progress of Wrexham as they face Wisla Krakow in a friendly match, with approximately 1,500 Polish fans expected to attend.

Por que importa

Wrexham’s upcoming schedule also includes friendly fixtures against Premier League opposition in various international locations, including Helsinki, Tampa, New York City, and Philadelphia. This contrasts sharply with Moore’s own childhood experiences in North Wales during the 1970s, when Wrexham’s pre-season tours were confined to local towns.

Moore’s involvement with Wrexham began nearly six years ago when he was introduced to Rob McElhenney by Steve Horowitz, a partner at Inner Circle Sports. McElhenney, inspired by the Netflix series “Sunderland ‘Til I Die,” was planning to purchase a British sports club and document the process. Moore, with his extensive business background in gaming and sportswear giants like Sega, Microsoft, EA Sports, Patrick, and Reebok, was an ideal sounding board.

Contexto

Crucially, Moore’s three-year tenure as chief executive at Liverpool from 2017 provided invaluable experience. During his time at Anfield, he oversaw the club’s first Premier League title win, a Champions League final victory, and significant revenue growth. This expertise was vital for McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds as they embarked on their Wrexham venture.

Despite initial hesitations due to his recent move back to California and the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Moore offered his support. He has remained an advisor to Wrexham’s hierarchy, playing a key role in validating the owners’ intentions to the local community. Through a series of interviews with various media outlets, Moore worked to alleviate skepticism in Wrexham, emphasizing the genuine commitment of the owners.

Moore leveraged his connections at EA Sports to facilitate Wrexham’s inclusion in FIFA 22, a significant achievement for a club then in the fifth tier of English football. This move was instrumental in raising Wrexham’s international profile.

Moore described his role as evaluating the owners, stating, “The more I talked to both of them, the more I could tell they were genuine. They wanted to do good. They were going to go in with both feet, and had the vision and the global reach to get this going.” He also acknowledged the owners’ early ambition, noting, “Of course, they then started talking about the frging Premier League when Wrexham were still in the National League! I’m thinking, ‘Easy now’. But look how close they are today (one promotion away from the top flight).”

Both Wrexham and Wisla Krakow share a history of being rescued from financial difficulties by their fans. Wrexham’s supporters raised £100,000 in 24 hours to prevent the club’s expulsion from the Conference, eventually leading to the Supporters’ Trust taking ownership. Similarly, Wisla Krakow survived bankruptcy in 2019 thanks to a crowdfunding campaign that raised approximately £850,000.

Under majority shareholder Jaroslaw Krolewski, Wisla returned to the top flight in May, celebrated by an estimated 50,000 fans. Moore anticipates the friendly against Wrexham will be a memorable occasion, reminiscent of Wrexham’s past European adventures. He playfully warned his colleague, Yonit Sharabi, who managed fan liaison at Liverpool, about the potentially different atmosphere at the Wisla Krakow match.

Key facts
| Aspect | Detail |
|—|—|
| Peter Moore’s roles | Co-owner/strategic advisor (Wisla Krakow), advisor (Wrexham AFC) |
| Wrexham’s current league | EFL Championship |
| Wrexham’s highest league finish | Seventh in Championship (last season) |
| Wisla Krakow’s league | Polish top flight |
| Wrexham’s FIFA 22 inclusion | Facilitated by Peter Moore’s EA Sports connections |

Moore’s insights underscore Wrexham’s significant transformation and the strategic vision guiding their ambitions. The club’s development, coupled with the owners’ global reach and commitment, positions them as a serious contender for future top-flight football. The upcoming friendlies against Premier League opposition will serve as further benchmarks for their progress.

Source: The Athletic Football – https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7365299/2026/07/10/peter-moore-wrexham-wisla-krakow/

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