THE new Kop stand will not be open for the start of the 2024/25 season, Wrexham AFC has confirmed.

After revealing initial proposals and being granted planning permission, the club said that the new 5,500-seater stand would be open in time for the start of next season.

However, today (September 20) the club has confirmed that due to a number of conditions, the contract has yet to be signed meaning the development has yet to start. 

In the first episode of Welcome to Wrexham, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed they had paid for the demolition of the old Kop stand themselves, and fans also got a glimpse of their reaction as they were told they were unsuccessful with the UK Government's levelling up funding bid. 

Now the club says they are waiting on the funding agreement to be signed by Wrexham Council, as well as a number of conditions and works that need to be completed before work can start. 

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There is currently no time frame on when work will start at the Stok Cae Ras.

A club spokesperson said: "The new Kop will not be open for the start of the 2024/25 season with a projected build period of 12 months from commencement on site. There is no date for starting on site, as several matters need to be resolved before that can be confirmed.

"To enable a contract to build the Kop to be signed, the grant funding agreement from Wrexham County Borough Council needs to be finalised and the club satisfied that the conditions attached to the funding offer can be fulfilled. It is hoped that these negotiations will be completed before the end of October 2023.

"There are several conditions that the club needs to be satisfied can be fulfilled which includes, but are not limited to:

"  - The collapse of the existing lease structure at the STōK Cae Ras. Good progress has been made with the WST in this regard, with an update on the position due to be announced soon by the WST.

"  -   Confirmation of the requirements to meet UEFA’s Category 4 stadium status and that these can be achieved. A report is awaited from UEFA after a stadium visit."

The club added: "From a practical perspective, to allow a contractor to commence, the following works also needs to be completed:

"  -     Permanent diversion of existing sewer away from the land required for the Kop with Welsh Water and Admiral Taverns (owners of The Turf).

"  -     Removal of a low voltage cable and substation that serves the student accommodation that runs across the land required for the Kop with SPEN and Wrexham University. Power needs to be always retained to the student accommodation and the University now have planning permission to build a new substation to facilitate this.

"Further updates will be issued in due course when progress is made."