"Genuine" - Wrexham AFC: Further praise heaped on Reynolds and McElhenney | OneFootball

"Genuine" - Wrexham AFC: Further praise heaped on Reynolds and McElhenney | OneFootball

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·4 October 2024

"Genuine" - Wrexham AFC: Further praise heaped on Reynolds and McElhenney

Article image:"Genuine" - Wrexham AFC: Further praise heaped on Reynolds and McElhenney

FLW's Wrexham fan pundit praises Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...


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Wrexham's rise from the National League to League One, which took just two years courtesy of back-to-back promotions, has captured the imaginations of football supporters in the UK, while also gaining an international audience courtesy of the Disney Plus documentary Welcome to Wrexham which focuses on Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's ownership of the club.

The Red Dragons have made an overall positive start to life in the third tier, and sit second in the League One table after winning 17 points from their opening nine games.

But the Welsh outfit have lost two out of their last four fixtures, including a defeat at the hands of Stevenage on Tuesday night, and will be looking to get back to winning ways come Saturday afternoon's encounter with Northampton Town.

Wrexham fan pundit praises Reynolds and McElhenney

Article image:"Genuine" - Wrexham AFC: Further praise heaped on Reynolds and McElhenney

Football League World's Red Dragons fan pundit, Liam Grice, said: "We're in quite a unique situation at Wrexham where, maybe from the outside, having an American and a Canadian as your owners, given the status they've got in Hollywood, you'd probably assume that they don't have a connection with the fans at all.

"But I can only speak from personal experience.

"When I've met them on multiple occasions, they've seemed like such down-to-earth, genuine people who are interested in not only seeing the football club succeed, but also seeing the town revive itself and get back to what it was in its heyday, and that's really good to see, and I think a lot of Wrexham fans recognise that as well, that they're open, they're honest, and they want the best for the town as well as the football club, and we can't thank them enough for that."

Wrexham fans are lucky to have Reynolds and McElhenney as owners

Article image:"Genuine" - Wrexham AFC: Further praise heaped on Reynolds and McElhenney

In recent years, the ownership of EFL clubs has come under scrutiny, largely due to the fact that both Bury were expelled from the Football League in 2019 following severe financial mismanagement.

Sadly, Bury's issues are not entirely unique as Wigan Athletic faced administration, and the potential threat of liquidation in 2020, while fellow League One side Reading continue to suffer amid the failed ownership of Dai Yongge.

But the success story of Reynolds and McElhenney's time at the helm of Wrexham has brought a real feel good factor among Red Dragons supporters, and the Hollywood duo currently exemplify a successful football business model, as demonstrated by their promotion successes of late.

The Red Dragons were relegated from League Two back in 2008, and did not make their Football League return until 2023 under their current ownership.

During their long spell in the fifth tier, the Racecourse Ground faithful will have been left wondering when their time back in the 92 would return, but Reynolds and McElhenney have put an emphatic end to such worries.

In fact, early season results such as a 2-0 away win over Peterborough United as well as a 3-0 hammering of cross-border rivals Shrewsbury Town indicate that a return to the second tier for the first time since 2004 may not be beyond the capabilities of the Welsh outfit come the end of the League One campaign.

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