**Power Dynamics at Wrexham: Ryan Reynolds’ Pre-Season Ambition Blocked by Manager Phil Parkinson**
Hollywood actor and co-owner of Wrexham AFC, Ryan Reynolds, has offered a rare glimpse behind the scenes at the North Wales football club, revealing the crucial decision-making power held by manager Phil Parkinson. Despite the glamour and global attention that Reynolds and fellow actor Rob McElhenney have brought to Wrexham, key strategic calls regarding football affairs still rest with the man in the dugout.
With excitement building for Wrexham’s forthcoming campaign in the Championship—their first stint in English football’s second tier for more than forty years—the focus has turned to the preparation for what will be a defining season. The club, whose miraculous rise has been widely documented in the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ series, recently unveiled ambitious plans for a pre-season tour covering Australia and New Zealand. Dubbed the ‘Wrexham Down Under Tour’, the Red Dragons are scheduled to face off against Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC, and Wellington Phoenix as part of efforts to expand their international profile.
However, Ryan Reynolds recently shared on the Men in Blazers podcast that his own aspirations for an extra fixture on this tour were quickly vetoed. The Deadpool star had proposed organising a friendly against Auckland FC—one of football’s freshest faces—but Parkinson, prioritising player welfare and the club’s competitive edge, was unequivocal in his refusal. “I really wanted us to play Auckland FC, which is a new team,” Reynolds explained, admiring the novelty of pitting one of football’s oldest clubs against a newcomer. Parkinson’s reply was blunt: “Absolutely not, we are getting these players back to Wales ASAP after Wellington.”
The manager’s steely stance was not without context. Just the previous year, Wrexham’s taxing US tour had been followed by a sluggish start to their League Two campaign—an outcome Parkinson attributed to insufficient recovery time and jet lag. Determined not to repeat the same mistake, his insistence was a clear message that sporting performance and squad readiness outweigh any promotional spectacle.
Behind the scenes, Reynolds has made it clear that he backs Parkinson’s calls unequivocally, stating on the podcast that he “trusted the manager implicitly.” This admission underscores the healthy separation between commercial ambitions and on-pitch strategy at Wrexham—a principle the club has adopted since the Hollywood duo’s takeover. The hands-off approach has produced results, with Parkinson steering Wrexham through three successive promotions and cultivating a winning culture.
Former Wrexham and Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster, speaking previously, praised this leadership model. He highlighted how Parkinson maintains authority over all matters football-related, from player recruitment and contracts to media commitments. “He wants to know what’s going on,” Foster said, lauding the owners’ willingness to delegate rather than interfere—an approach he believes has prevented financial excesses and kept the club stable.
It’s a managerial structure becoming increasingly rare in modern football, where many coaches find themselves at the mercy of committee decisions or the whims of billionaire owners. At Wrexham, Parkinson’s autonomy has forged both a robust squad and a trusting relationship with the board, crucial ingredients as the club readies itself for tougher competition in the Championship.
For his part, Parkinson has repeatedly credited the owners for their support and vision since their arrival at the club. Speaking after promotion was secured, he commended Reynolds and McElhenney for “investing in all of the decisions, but trusting us in our decision making.” He added that their hands-off support has allowed the coaching staff to perform their roles effectively, both in good times and when results haven’t gone Wrexham’s way.
As the Red Dragons set their sights on another historic season, the episode serves as a reminder that behind the glitz and Netflix cameras, it is clear, level-headed football management that truly shapes a club’s destiny. In Wrexham’s extraordinary journey, the balance of ambition and discipline may very well be the formula that propels them to even greater heights.