Wrexham are making waves under Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, inspiring a number of other owners to achieve similar success.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds paid £2million for Wrexham in 2021 and have put the club on a remarkable path ever since.
Wrexham are one of the most talked about clubs in the game with ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ not only showcasing the Hollywood ownership but also the incredible community around Wrexham.
Wrexham have been successful on the pitch too, achieving back-to-back promotions to accelerate from the National League to League One in rapid fashion.
So many North American owners have arrived in the English game and failed to appease fanbases.
That isn’t the case with McElhenney and Reynolds though with wrexham certainly setting the standard for any incoming owners.
Non-league owner on Ryan Reynolds
Wrexham clinched promotion from the National League in 2023 and Reynolds wanted another promotion this season.
A third promotion in a row would not only mark another major success for Wrexham, but provide more inspiration for non-league clubs.
Truro City are a great example given that they also have a Canadian running the club, just like Reynolds.
Canadian businessman Eric Perez took over Truro in 2023, stepping into football after his background in rugby.
Perez and Truro City now sit fourth in the National League South table with just four points separating top from eighth place.
Promotion to the National League is a genuine target for Truro City this season despite only finishing 16th last term.
Perez has now told BBC Sport that he thinks Reynolds is a ‘global superstar’ and really appreciates what Wrexham have been doing in recent years.
Perez added that he is trying to do things his own way at Truro City but pointed out Wrexham missing out on promotion in the first season of the McElhenney and Reynolds project.
The Canadian clearly feels that Truro City are on a journey and he hopes to carve out his own path to join Wrexham in the EFL one day.
“He’s already a global superstar, so they’re doing it their way and we’re going to do it the Cornish way, which is hard work, a little finesse, flair and I think knowing that Cornish is better,” said Perez.
“I appreciate what they’ve done in Wrexham,” said Perez. “I’ve been following football my whole life so I’ve seen other clubs go from lower divisions into the Football League.
“Even with their tremendous resources, their star power, their television show and everything, they still didn’t get promoted into the Football League the first time around. That’s why you play the game and that’s what’s so brilliant about football – it can turn around and bite you in the neck when you think it’s coming in for a kiss,” he added.
Others want to emulate Wrexham
Wrexham have caught everybody’s attention under McElhenney and Reynolds with so many people buying into this project.
Other football club owners are looking to take inspiration from Wrexham with Perez far from alone.
Chorley now have celebrity ownership themselves with former Westlife star Brian McFadden looking to follow Wrexham’s rise.
American rapper A$AP Rocky has been linked with Tranmere Rovers with a ‘Welcome to Wrexham’-style documentary series to follow.
Non-league side Wroxham have also started a ‘Welcome to Wroxham’ series on YouTube with a few jokes pointed in Wrexham’s direction.
Wrexham’s rise has been an inspiration for many in the game and there may be many more clubs to follow suit in the coming years.