HOLLYWOOD A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney aim to make Wrexham a “global force” – while making a Netflix-syle documentary and drinking with fans.
Supporters of the fan-owned National League club are voting on accepting the proposed takeover – after Deadpool star Reynolds and actor/ director McElhenney told them their plans in a Zoom meeting.
Wrexham reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1977-78 and would aim to match such glories if the ambitious takeover goes aheadCredit: Daily Post Wales
Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney used Zoom to tell Wrexham fans their vision of the club’s future
Wrexham’s would-be co-owner Ryan Reynolds was the title star of Deadpool and Deadpool 2Credit: Reuters
But already the Welsh side are 20/1 with one bookmaker to reach the Premier League by 2026.
Both celebrities are understood to be prepared to use their own money, marketing and fame to help the Dragons more than restore their glory days of the 1977-78 campaign, where they reached the FA Cup quarter-finals and won the old Division Three.
Wrexham have put out a ‘mission statement’ quoting the stars’ ambitions, with the words: “WIN, WIN. WIN”.
In it the actors state: “We want to be part of Wrexham’s story, not drag the club into ours.”
McElhenney told a Supporters Trust meeting: “The Racecourse hasn’t been full for a while. I have a vision of the Racecourse being full again.
“I’ve seen how packed it used to be in ’77 – I’ve been watching a lot of films about.
“I want it to feel like that again. We want to pack that stadium again.”
National League Wrexham could become a major power, if Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney take over and succeed with their dream Credit: Daily Post Wales
He added: “Ryan is much more responsible in his business life, but I get so excited by possibilities and what it could be.
I want people to be so excited to watch the rise of the club and the Racecourse.”
Reynolds said: “I’m Canadian and we’re by nature a cautious people.
“We want to be at the Racecourse Ground as much as possible – as many games as I can make.
“We want to have a pint with the fans.
You’ll be fed up of us! We want to be great ambassadors for the club, to introduce the club to the world and be a global force.”
The entrepreneurs laid out five principles for their takeover:
- Protect the heritage of the club.
- Not change, but reinforce the values woven into the town itself.
- Use our own resources to grow the club – they want it to have a global appeal.
- Reward the supporters who have stood with it by putting everything we have to make this club win.
- We want to be champions.
Wrexham have been in the National League since relegation in 2007-08 but could the North Wales town and club soon be transformed?Credit: Daily Post Wales
On plans for a Netflix-type, fly-on-the-wall show McElhenney, who created the TV series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, said: “That’s happened. We’re documenting it.
“We should be thinking about Wrexham the way Man U thinks about Man U. Engage in club, communities. What a great way to do it.”
Reynolds said: “It’s the storytelling that gets me. What the player overcame to get on the pitch.
We’re interested in that in every level. We can attract great players too.
We’re excited to have some documentation – and no one has to speak (in it) if they don’t want to.”
Fans shared their enthusiasm following the revealing question and answer session.
One said: “It was a very positive presentation from them and one I think we should go forward on.”
They were very savvy… This is the grand chance to go back to the good old days.
Wrexham fan
Another added: “I was really impressed by the guys, they were very savvy.
“If we vote against this we really don’t deserve anything.
“This is the grand chance to go back to the good old days.”
Wrexham themselves released a mission statement on Monday evening, saying the two actors promised to:
- “Explore the renovation of the Racecourse Ground and improve the venue for the club, for international matches and perhaps, the occasional Tom Jones gig”.
- Pledged to make the club ecologically sound and work with the community.
- On at least three occasions vowed to “always beat Chester”.
- Want to invest in a permanent training facility worthy of an EFL club.
- Guarantee the club cannot be relocated, renamed or rebranded.
Wrexham, owned by fans since 2011, are now asking members to decide if Reynolds and McElhenney can complete their takeover.
Voting runs from Monday until Sunday, November 15, with 75 per cent support needed to approve the plan.
If it gets the green light, the fifth-tier club will star in a documentary to chart their rise under the actors.
And even in the short-term Wrexham could do with a boost in fourtunes as they lie 14th after six games.
Reynolds and McElhenney both joked they hoped the club would never again have to face rivals Chester, wo are now in National League North.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
