Shaun Harvey becomes acting Wrexham CEO after Michael Williamson exits

Wrexham have installed director Shaun Harvey as acting chief executive following Michael Williamson's departure, with the leadership change coming during a week in which the team took four points from two Championship matches. BBC Sport Wales reported that Williamson left on Friday, less than a day before Wrexham drew 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers in front of co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEg4n8fNiuA

Harvey returns to a day-to-day role after stepping back from those responsibilities in early July. The former English Football League chief executive, who held that position from 2013 to 2019, has advised Wrexham's owners since they became involved with the club. Manager Phil Parkinson said Harvey had remained around the organisation and understood its operations through his involvement from the beginning of the ownership's tenure.

Williamson's time in charge covered a substantial expansion of the club. He arrived shortly after Wrexham secured promotion to League One and subsequently oversaw their move into the Championship, where they finished seventh in 2025-26. BBC Sport Wales reported that staff numbers rose from 255 to 313 during his first year. He also played a prominent part in developing the new Kop Stand and the academy facility at Darland High School.

The change follows problems with the registration of summer signings Callum O'Hare and Issa Kabore. The EFL fined Wrexham £75,000, with £25,000 suspended, after ruling that Kabore had been ineligible against Birmingham City and O'Hare against Millwall. In programme notes before the Middlesbrough match, Williamson said the club had co-operated with the league, conducted an internal review and taken steps to improve its procedures. Those breaches predated sporting director Steve Nickson's arrival.

On the field, Parkinson's side followed a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough with the draw against Wolves. Those results left Wrexham 15th after 15 Championship fixtures. Parkinson learned of Williamson's departure on Friday morning before his afternoon press conference, according to BBC Sport Wales. Harvey was applauded by home supporters as he took his seat during the Wolves match.

In their statement announcing Williamson's departure, Reynolds and Mac emphasised their commitment to making the Wrexham community proud. Harvey's appointment remains an acting one. BBC Sport Wales reported that any permanent appointment would require approval from the Independent Football Regulator, leaving the club's longer-term executive arrangements unresolved as the team enters the international break.