Wrexham's summer paperwork has cost them money. The English Football League has fined the Championship club £75,000, with £25,000 of that suspended, after two separate cases of fielding ineligible players this season.
Two matches, two missing documents
The EFL ruled that Issa Kabore and Callum O'Hare should not have been available for Wrexham's games against Birmingham and Millwall. Kabore came off the bench in the 2-1 defeat by Birmingham City on 28 August, though his Home Office right-to-work documents had not been uploaded correctly. He had returned to the Racecourse Ground on the eve of that match and signed a three-year deal.
O'Hare's case is slightly different. He joined from Sheffield United the day before the 3-0 win at Millwall on 2 September and was an unused substitute, but his documentation was not uploaded in time. Nobody played, in other words, but the breach still counted.
Wrexham's response
The club have accepted the decision. "We can confirm that Wrexham AFC has reached an agreed decision with the EFL concerning two breaches relating to player eligibility," a statement read, adding that steps are being taken to stop it happening again. BBC Sport understands Wrexham are hiring a club secretary and improving administrative training.
A club official also told BBC Sport Wales that the problems were not the fault of manager Phil Parkinson, his coaching staff or sporting director Steve Nickson. Nickson was not officially appointed until 7 September, after both incidents.
Where it leaves the club
On the pitch, Wrexham sit 17th in the Championship after 12 games. Kabore, a 25-year-old Burkina Faso international, spent last season on loan at Wrexham before making the move from Manchester City permanent. He has featured 10 times in the league so far. O'Hare also signed a three-year contract after leaving Sheffield United.
A bill of £50,000 payable now, with a further £25,000 held in reserve, is hardly a crisis for a club with Wrexham's resources. It is, though, an embarrassing way to be reminded how much work goes into running a second-tier football club behind the scenes, and the suspended part hangs over them if anything similar happens again.
Transfer context: Issa Kabore, 25, permanent move from Manchester City, three-year deal. Callum O'Hare permanent move from Sheffield United, three-year deal. Wrexham fined £75,000 (£25,000 suspended) by the EFL. Wrexham 17th in the Championship after 12 games. Source: BBC Sport.
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