How Wrexham AFC supporters first reacted when Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over the club - It's been a rollercoaster | OneFootball

Wrexham have secured their third consecutive promotion, exceeding even the most optimistic fans' expectations.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's takeover of Wrexham AFC in 2021 marked one of the most unexpected ownership changes in football history, transforming a struggling National League club into a global phenomenon.

The Hollywood stars completed their £2 million purchase after receiving overwhelming support from the Wrexham Supporters Trust, setting the stage for what would become an extraordinary journey from non-league football to the Championship within just a few years.

Four years after the takeover, Wrexham have secured their third consecutive promotion, reaching the Championship for the 2025/26 season and finding themselves just one step away from the Premier League, exceeding even the most optimistic fans' expectations.

Wrexham AFC takeover reaction

The initial announcement that Hollywood stars Reynolds and McElhenney were interested in purchasing Wrexham AFC came completely out of nowhere in September 2020, catching many supporters and football observers completely off guard.

As one supporter described it to Sky News at the time: "The town is alive with rumours, I haven't felt like this since the FA Cup runs of the 90s."

When the takeover was put to a vote, a staggering 98 percent of the Wrexham Supporters Trust voted in favor of the £2 million takeover, demonstrating the overwhelming enthusiasm for what many viewed as a potential lifeline for a club that had been languishing in non-league football for over a decade.

Reynolds and McElhenney marked the occasion in typical humorous fashion by creating an advertisement for Ifor Williams Trailers, the club's sponsor. In the video, Reynolds quipped, "Why are Rob and I pitching a north Walian trailer manufacturer?" with McElhenney responding: "Because we just became owners of Wrexham Association Football Club and they're our team sponsor... You may never have heard of Wrexham, the Racecourse Ground or Ifor Williams but you will."

The announcement video perfectly captured the surreal nature of the takeover while also showing respect for the club's existing partnerships and community roots, something that immediately endeared the new owners to many supporters.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's impact on the Wrexham AFC fanbase

By November 2023, it was revealed on the "Welcome to Wrexham" documentary series that Reynolds and McElhenney had lost over £10 million since taking ownership. When informed of the figure, Reynolds jokingly responded, "I'm going to throw up," while McElhenney more pragmatically asked when they might expect to see returns on their investment.

Despite the financial losses, the on-field success has been remarkable. Wrexham have just secured a historic third consecutive promotion. This represents a meteoric rise from the National League (fifth tier) in just four seasons under the Hollywood ownership.

The impact extends far beyond results on the pitch. Wrexham County has seen a 20% growth in visitor numbers year-on-year, with international tourists, particularly from the USA and Canada, flocking to North Wales specifically because of the club's elevated profile.

One Australian visitor to the club shop admitted he had "never even heard of the place until we saw the documentary," highlighting how the "Welcome to Wrexham" series has introduced the city to a global audience.

Some Wrexham AFC fans feared the proposed takeover was a publicity stunt

While the initial fan reaction was overwhelmingly positive, there was inevitably some skepticism about the Hollywood owners' long-term commitment. Some supporters worried it might be a short-term publicity stunt rather than a genuine investment in the club's future.

Those doubts have been answered by Reynolds and McElhenney's continued financial support and emotional investment in the club's fortunes. Earlier this month, Reynolds revealed he was looking forward to "many more" years at the city following their latest promotion.

The journey from the National League to the Championship has vindicated the trust placed in the owners by the supporters who voted so decisively for the takeover in 2021. What once seemed like an unusual publicity stunt has evolved into one of football's most remarkable ownership success stories, with Wrexham now just one step away from the Premier League dream that few fans would have dared to imagine four years ago.

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