Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have completed their takeover of Wrexham AFC, a Welsh football club currently playing in England’s fifth tier.
The pair have taken 100 per cent control, in a takeover that sees the club’s nine-year fan ownership model come to an end.
Reynolds, star of “Deadpool” and McElhenney, the creator of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” took control from Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) and have made an initial £2 million ($2.77M) investment into the club, CNN reports.
The pair in a joint statement said;
It is a special day for the two of us to become the latest stewards in the long and storied history of Wrexham AFC. Together with the players, the staff, the fans, and the local community, we can now pursue our goal to grow the team and return it to the EFL in front of increased attendances, and in an improved stadium, while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham.
Wrexham Association Football Club is a Welsh professional association football club based in Wrexham, Wales.
Formed in 1864, they are the oldest club in Wales and the third oldest professional football team in the world.
They have played in the fifth tier of English football since being relegated from the Football League in 2008.
Who are Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney?
Ryan Reynolds is an award-winning Canadian actor, most famous for appearing in Marvel’s Deadpool, for which he gained a Golden Globe nomination. Reynolds, who starred in Pokemon Detective Pikachu, is also a successful entrepreneur.
Rob McElhenney is an actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is most known for creating and starring in the show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, for which he has regularly written and directed episodes.
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, the two owners outlined their principles. They said;
Our goal is to grow the team, return it to the EFL in front of increased attendances at an improved stadium while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham.
On its part, WST in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the new owners said funds will be made available immediately, adding that; “First-team player identification will be a priority”.
Further money will be spent to enhance the women’s football programme, the club’s community initiatives and the Racecourse Ground – the world’s oldest stadium, according to Guinness World Records, which has a capacity of approximately 10,000.
Wrexham has never played in the top-flight of English football, but the club has previously reached the FA Cup quarterfinals and famously beat Arsenal in the third round in 1992.
Its proud history also extends to European tournaments, with its most famous night coming in 1984 when Wrexham beat Porto in the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Also known as the Robins, Wrexham plays its home games at the historic Racecourse Ground.
