VANARAMA National League promotion favourites Wrexham are paying one of their goalkeepers an astonishing £6,000 per week, according to York City manager John Askey.
Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took charge of Wrexham last year and have since spent big since, according to several reports, to achieve their ownership's Premier League status ambitions.
The Welsh club broke their record transfer fee to sign striker Ollie Palmer from AFC Wimbledon in January and are the bookmakers' favourites to go up this season, having been beaten in last term's play-offs and Buildbase FA Trophy final.
York boss Askey revealed the scale of Wrexham's spending when discussing those likely to be battling it out at the top of non-league over the coming months.
“There’s a lot of big clubs in this league, Wrexham being the biggest," Askey said, speaking at the club's fans forum.
"They’ve just put a goalkeeper on £6,000 per week, so that tells you about the sort of money that they are spending.
“Then you’ve got Notts County, Southend, Scunthorpe and Oldham. They’re all big, old lower league clubs, so it’s going to be tough.
“I think we’re looking forward to it though. To be going to those clubs, I’m excited by it, to be going to proper grounds and to feel like a proper football club again, that feels good,” the manager added, after leading City up from the National League North play-offs back in May.
The aforementioned Notts County are also tipped to be among those fighting for a spot in Sky Bet League Two next season, having been knocked out of the play-offs by eventual promotion winners Grimsby Town last term.
Having seen manager Ian Burchnall depart for Forest Green Rovers over the off-season, Askey was installed as the bookies' favourite for the vacant job for a short period of time, briefly as short as evens.
“I was just getting my agent to put that around,” joked Askey.
“No, it wasn’t true at all. I had no intention of going anywhere. There was no way that I’d leave for anybody in the same league as us.
“I’ve enjoyed it here and the people have made me feel welcome and it’s a great city. Why would I want to go anywhere else?
“I had a couple of clubs approach me, but I had no interest in them.”
Askey took charge of York in November on an interim basis, succeeding Steve Watson, who he was briefly number two to.
Since March, the former Port Vale boss has been permanent manager, a position he evidently cherishes.
“I’m not just saying this, but when I first came in and I was asked to be the manager of York, I was really privileged," a sincere Askey said.
“To this day, I feel really privileged. It’s a fantastic club that has gone through some tough times.
"But hopefully now we’re on the up, whether that’s with me or something else, I think the club is going in the right direction.
“With a stadium like this, the potential of the club, if things are done properly, it’ll go in the direction you want it to go in, it's just a matter of time.”