‘Where’s the next Wrexham?’ – Advisor to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Les Reed, reveals secret to pair’s success in Wales

Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s advisor Les Reed revealed the secret behind the Hollywood stars’ success story in Wales.

• Advisor to Wrexham owners reveals secret to success
• Red Dragons earned back-to-back promotions
• Welsh club to play pre-season friendlies in the US

WHAT HAPPENED?

Since buying the club in November 2020, the Hollywood actors have managed to transform the Welsh side who earned back-to-back promotions and will now compete in League One next season. After winning the National League title last season, the Red Dragons managed to finish second in League Two.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Former Charlton Athletic manager Les Reed, who currently works as an advisor the the actors, revealed how the duo managed to find success with their club in a short period. Since Reynolds and McElhenney’s entry into English football, several A-list stars like NFL legends JJ Watt and Tom Brady have turned their attention to football.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Speaking to The Sun, Reed said, “I try to get people to understand what they are buying, rather than simply doing due diligence on the business side. There’s a slightly different thing here [in UK sport] called jeopardy because of relegation. There’s a sporting element to this business that everyone starts from the same point and is trying to beat each other every week.

“Otherwise, it wouldn’t be exciting. The fun element of running a football club also relies on the ability to run it properly as a business and to get results — because if you’re losing football matches and/or money, it’s not fun.”

He added, “What I get asked by potential clients is, ‘Where’s the next Wrexham?’ And what I try to say to them is the ‘next Wrexham’ also means where is the next Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds? It’s the combination of Wrexham’s culture, history and tradition, its uniqueness as a Welsh club in an English league. With celebrities who understand all that and have got close to the community. They are not round every corner.”

WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Phil Parkinson’s side will be back in action in July when they travel to the US to play pre-season friendly matches against Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Bournemouth.