Questions over whether or not Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds can sustain Wrexham have been raised this week.
Rob McElhenney was inspired by Sunderland to buy Wrexham but with extra investment needed, the Always Sunny star then brought Ryan Reynolds on board.
Together, the Hollywood giants purchased the Red Dragons from the club’s Supporters Trust in February 2021.
After their first few months at the Racecourse Ground ended in disappointment, Rob and Ryan set about making wholesale changes in the summer of 2021, appointing Phil Parkinson as manager and signing 10 new players.
Paul Mullin was McElhenney and Reynolds’ marquee signing and he has played a major role in Wrexham ending a 15-year spell in the National League and, in the space of just two years, battling for a third-straight promotion to the Championship.
After such a quick rise up the EFL, however, questions have now been raised over whether the North American actors can continue to fund the club going forward.
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Ryan Reynolds made stance on funding Wrexham clear
Speaking on talkSPORT this week, McElhenney and Reynolds selling Wrexham was discussed by Darren Bent and Andy Goldstein.
Bent questioned if the pair would be able to continue funding the Welsh outfit as they move up the divisions.
He said: “I know they’re worth loads, like £400m, but when does that become not enough? £400m in real life terms is a ridiculous amount of money, like stupid wealth. If they get to the Championship then all of a sudden 400million is still doable, but in the Premier League it’s nothing.”
Goldstein then suggested it’s ‘all about profit’ and that Rob and Ryan could look to sell if they make £300m each over five years.
He stated: “It’s all about profit. How much did they buy Wrexham for? I’m guessing it’s nowhere near the amount it’s worth now if they get into the Championship. If they make £300m each over five years then I could see it [them selling].”
However, despite speculation the duo could end up selling the club and that profit is a key factor, Reynolds’ stance on funding Wrexham has already been made clear.
Speaking back in April 2024, the Canadian insisted he and Rob are not in it to make money but did admit they will need outside help to sustain Wrexham the higher up the pyramid they get.
He said: “History has an unbelievable amount of examples of how this was not the best idea, but we’re not in it to make money and goddamn it, we won’t.
“I think we recognize how lucky we are that we can be in this position where it isn’t about making money or any of those things. I mean, you have to be in a pretty privileged spot to be able to do this to begin with. But eventually, you know, as we climb up the leagues, we’re going to need outside help in order to sustain this club.
“One of our great mission statements and – this is something that is still a huge target – is to create a sustainable model for a sports club like this and allow it to support itself long after we’re dead and gone.”
What will happen to Wrexham if Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds sell
It seems very unlikely that McElhenney and Reynolds will be looking to offload Wrexham anytime soon.
The pair’s love for the club has come across very clearly in the ‘Welcome to Wrexham‘ documentary and via interviews/social media.
But at the same point, even if it’s in 30/40 years, the Red Dragons will eventually have to get new owners.
By that time, they will hopefully be in the Premier League and as Reynolds previously mentioned, are able to sustain themselves without massive outside investment.