WREXHAM, Wales (AP) — Wrexham continued its squad reconstruction ahead of a season in the second-tier Championship by releasing one of its most renowned players — against his will. Steven Fletcher, a former Premier League player who scored some crucial goals to help Wrexham earn athird straight promotion, took to social media to say he'd be leaving the ambitious Welsh club. "It's with a heavy heart, and not by choice, that I unfortunately have to announce my departure from what I can only describe as the most magical club I have ever played at!"Fletcher posted on Instagram. The 38-year-old striker said he fell back in love with soccer by joining Wrexham, a club whose notoriety has rocketed since being bought by Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and becoming the subject of a fly-on-the-wall documentary — "Welcome to Wrexham." "In my 22 years of stepping onto a pitch, I have never experienced anything like this club," the former Scotland international wrote. "To my team mates — you are family!" he added. "I have never experienced a dressing room like it in my career, and I can't believe I don't get to walk in there every day next season." Fletcher finished a long message by thanking Reynolds and McElhenney for the opportunity to play for Wrexham. Wrexham will need to improve the quality of its squad after rising to the second tier, a level the club hasn't played since the 1980s and just one more promotion away from the Premier League. Another striker who might be leaving isPaul Mullin, a star player in previous promotion campaigns but who was overlooked by Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson for much of the second half of the season. ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
