**Mega-Rich Allyn Family Choose Wrexham Over Liverpool for Football Investment**
Hollywood glamour and North American wealth have combined to breathe new life into Wrexham AFC—now enjoying a rapid ascent through the English football pyramid. The latest twist in the club’s remarkable journey comes courtesy of the Allyn family, a philanthropic dynasty from upstate New York, which has become a minority investor in the club co-owned by A-list stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Perhaps most intriguing is the revelation that the Allyns specifically chose Wrexham, a Welsh club with a proud but modest history, over Premier League behemoths like Liverpool.
The Allyn family’s fortune originates from the century-old medical device firm Welch Allyn, which they sold in 2015 for an astonishing £1.5 billion. Since then, the family has turned to private investment and charitable initiatives. As of October last year, they have secured a seat at the Wrexham table, backing the club’s drive for glory alongside Reynolds and McElhenney. Kaleen Allyn, who manages the family’s investment portfolio and brings Wall Street expertise, took up the post of executive director at Wrexham in January.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Kaleen Allyn shed light on why Wrexham captured her family’s imagination. At first, Liverpool—and other established Premier League names—featured on their radar. However, the family was put off by the prospect of being minuscule, largely uninvolved shareholders among a constellation of wealthy oligarchs and conglomerates. “You become a fraction-of-a-fraction owner,” Allyn explained. “You can’t really engage.” The Allyns’ desire for meaningful involvement and hands-on impact would not be satisfied by investing in mainstream giants.
Instead, Allyn’s attention was turned “lower down the pyramid” where the risks may be higher, but where real change and influence are easier to achieve. Through an intermediary, the Allyns were introduced to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, whose well-documented stewardship has already transformed Wrexham’s global profile thanks to the Disney+ docuseries ‘Welcome to Wrexham’.
Neither Kaleen nor her father Eric had previously visited Wrexham, but each was quickly enchanted—both by the city and by its fiercely loyal fanbase. Eric, in fact, paid a secret visit to the Racecourse Ground before the investment was finalised. The family’s community-minded values, honed through decades of philanthropy back in New York, aligned neatly with Reynolds and McElhenney’s own vision for the club as a catalyst for regional pride and regeneration.
As Liverpool secured their 20th league title at Anfield, Kaleen and Eric Allyn were celebrating a different triumph—joining Reynolds and McElhenney at the Racecourse Ground as Wrexham secured promotion to the Championship. It was a symbolic moment, encapsulating the new investors’ commitment and passion for their adopted club.
Specific details of the Allyns’ investment remain under wraps, but their involvement has included the formation of Red Dragon Ventures LLC, a joint enterprise with the club’s famous owners. Since their arrival, the club has seen a number of significant share movements and—more importantly—considerable growth on and off the pitch.
Kaleen Allyn’s approach within the club is notably pragmatic. She emphasises the importance of sustainable growth over mere rapid ascent. Her role involves supporting the Wrexham AFC Foundation, nurturing the youth academy, and shaping the club’s strategic direction. “We want to be true partners and get our hands dirty; be part of the story of what’s happening,” she said. For the Allyns, Wrexham offers the opportunity not simply to profit, but to contribute to a long-term, community-powered project.
There is clear excitement around Wrexham’s consecutive promotions, yet stewardship remains focused on the club’s survival and evolution amid new challenges. “It’s been great Phil [Parkinson] has been able to create a team that’s gone back-to-back-to-back, and the management’s job now is to make sure this is sustainable,” Allyn added.
In a world where football clubs are often seen as little more than assets for billionaire investors, Wrexham’s story is an encouraging outlier—one where business and stardom are balanced with a genuine devotion to community and the sport itself. For the Allyns, Reynolds, and McElhenney, it seems that the greatest reward lies not just in victories and promotions, but in the shared adventure of building something that endures.