**Ryan Reynolds’ Candid Speech Sparks Wrexham’s Surge to the Championship**
In a season that will be remembered for its dramatic highs and pivotal turning points, the influence of Wrexham AFC’s Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has come sharply into focus following the club’s historic promotion to the Championship. Details have emerged revealing just how hands-on the celebrity duo have been during moments of adversity – with one impassioned, expletive-laden address from Reynolds said to have truly galvanised the squad in a crucial moment.
Wrexham’s remarkable rise, capped off with a commanding 3-0 victory over Charlton to secure their third consecutive promotion, has been a footballing fairytale ever since Reynolds and McElhenney took ownership in 2021. Their stewardship began with the club languishing in non-league football, and only now, four years later, the Welsh side stands just one step away from the Premier League. For a town and team long waiting for a resurgence, the American stars’ reign has been transformative both on and off the pitch.
But their journey has not been without its detractors. Some critics have levelled accusations that the duo have been content to stand in the spotlight when times were good, but were less visible during the club’s more challenging spells. Allegations of ‘cheerleading from afar’ and simply injecting funds while leaning on manager Phil Parkinson and his coaching staff have occasionally surfaced. Nevertheless, new accounts from inside the Wrexham camp suggest a much more involved approach from the owners, particularly when adversity threatened to derail their promotion hopes.
As the champagne corks settle and the city starts to absorb the magnitude of their achievement, Wrexham players have spoken openly about the emotional interventions by both Reynolds and McElhenney over the past few months. These were not mere token words: according to the squad, they were decisive and delivered at turning points that shaped their campaign.
Following a dispiriting 2-2 draw away at soon-to-be-relegated Cambridge United at the start of April, the mood within the changing room was tense. Sensing the team’s vulnerability, Reynolds reportedly assembled the players in a tight huddle ahead of their next clash with Burton Albion. What followed was, by all accounts, a raw and passionate speech, peppered with expletives, designed to shake the squad out of its disappointment and reignite their hunger for success.
The results were immediate. Wrexham responded with a resounding 3-0 win over Burton Albion, swinging momentum firmly back in their favour. That victory proved a pivotal confidence boost as they wrestled control of their Championship destiny.
Yet, the journey was far from straightforward, and further setbacks followed. After squandering more points in a frustrating draw against the also-doomed Bristol Rovers, Wrexham once again appeared at risk of faltering during the crucial run-in. This time, it was McElhenney who took centre stage. Stepping into the role of motivator, the actor delivered a stirring 10-minute speech ahead of the must-win encounter with Blackpool on Easter Monday.
The players, including midfielder George Dobson, described McElhenney’s words as inspirational, saying they captured the childlike joy of football and eased the pressure. “He just said there’s no pressure, go back to that 12-year-old boy and just play as you would as a kid with your friends,” recalled Dobson. “It was a really inspirational, motivational speech and the whole group bought into it. You could sense in the way he spoke how much it meant to him.”
The chemistry between owners and team, according to those present, created a sense of unity and fresh drive that was instrumental in their final push for automatic promotion. What once might have been written off as publicity gestures have proved, in the words of the players, to be authentic interventions that left a tangible impact at season-defining moments.
As Wrexham prepares for life in the Championship—a prospect that would have seemed unimaginable just a short time ago—the story is now richer and more complex than a mere Hollywood script. Reynolds and McElhenney may have brought star power, but they’re also demonstrating the kind of personal investment and emotional leadership that earns genuine respect from both players and fans.
The legacy of their stewardship, no matter where Wrexham’s footballing journey goes next, will surely be defined not only by their ambitions off the pitch, but also by the honesty and passion they’ve shown in the dressing room, especially when it mattered most.