Ryan Reynolds Learns with Wrexham That You Can’t Have It Both Ways
Fairy tales are supposed to have happy endings, we are told. It certainly appeared to be the case when a stroke of good fortune shone on the Welsh League on September 23rd, 2020. One club in particular would be the recipient of this miracle. Wrexham A.F.C., an old, declining club, caught the eye of two famous actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who had an interest in reviving a club with a deep history and a passionate fan base. They were transparent in their intent to meet the challenge of bringing the Welsh club back to prominence. This was perceived by a former 10-year Wrexham veteran who played for the Welsh team in the early 2010s. “When I first read social media and heard the rumors, honestly, I thought it was a joke,” recalled Shaun Pejic.
Reynolds and McElhenney understood the sensitive nature of owning a team that was tied to the community that surrounds it. They stated that they would be hands-on and not run at the first hint of adversity. They proved that this was no joking matter and that they were serious. Over time, they acquired talented players from George Dobson to Oliver Rathbone, always looking to add.
It is now 2025, and suddenly, the club has taken actions that reflect corporate greed, and the Wrexham faithful have appealed once again to the man who has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and took a chance on this city. The man who made Wrexham a different place in 2020 when the TV documentary series Welcome to Wrexham appeared on streaming services like Hulu or Disney+. It introduced the world to the oldest club in Wales and the third-oldest soccer team in the world. This was a legacy worth preserving, as 10 years before, they held the FA Cup and it looked very promising. They invested in championship talent such as George Evans from Millwall, their highest-paid player to date.
The show is currently in its third season and highlights the progression made by the duo that brought the Red Dragons two years later to promotion to the EFL League One, the third division behind only the Premier League and EFL Championship. When you get strikers like Paul Mullin and his 90 goals since 2021 and Ollie Palmer from levels above you and pay more than the market rate, you simply improve. The club made money and drew the type of attention teams in the boondocks of English football never see. However, it was reported two weeks ago that Reynolds may be taking a step back from involvement with the club. This reflects the other interests Reynolds has on his list. This appears to have opened the door for the other club leaders to try to make quick money on the backs of the supporters. It was recently announced that games for the rest of this season would be sold in batches of three only as opposed to single games. This has brought an uproar from the fans and has brought them to call on Reynolds and McElhenney to correct this injustice. It also messed up by allowing a general sale later the same day. This has caused members to be usurped, as many are working when tickets are released at 10 a.m. By the time most arrive home, it has concluded. In addition, rival fans scoop up the empties, and that can bring friction on the home grounds. Gav Lea, an angry fan, posted on his X account, “Another own goal by the club here,” he vented, “This is a crazy decision straight after Christmas for fans who may have to budget for tickets.”
Wrexham is on the verge of re-entering big-time football. They are willing to get players to improve the level of the team as it appears they may even be looking at the ultimate promotion, the Premier League. This implies capturing a Premier League star with a contract situation that opens the door, like Matheus Cunha of Brazil, for example. However, is it worth the price of pricing out your fans? Wrexham followers have put the owners on notice. When the club charged 10 pounds for access to a fan zone at the Racecourse Ground, they responded by not attending the game against Cambridge United. Co-owner Reynolds and actor Channing Tatum, who were in attendance, noted the empty seats. The club dropped it thereafter. However, fans here have noticed these slights, and Ryan Reynolds has a decision to make before the club looks to become big-time. Wrexham has made it clear he cannot have it both ways. One fan on the forums made it quite clear what the issue is. “When it comes to tickets and still no loyalty scheme,” he wrote, “someone clearly doesn't have a clue of the feelings of the fanbase.” Will the messages of the Wrexham faithful fall on deaf ears?
