Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham's 10-year plan hits skids as restrictions bite

Wrexham may be bracing for their most challenging season under the stewardship of celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, given EFL regulations that currently restrict them to adding just a single player to their senior squad.

Since movie stars Reynolds and McElhenney took over in 2020, Wrexham AFC have seen an era of marked transformation, achieving consecutive promotions in the last two seasons. Post-victories in the National League, they've continued their impressive form with strategic signings like James McClean and Steven Fletcher, with Wrexham finishing second in League Two.

Now, as they ready themselves to join League One - their first appearance at this tier in 20 years - the forthcoming season promises to be a rigorous examination for Phil Parkinson's team. According to a prediction from a 'super computer' reported by Goal, Wrexham are set to sidestep relegation by securing a 19th-place finish in their League One comeback.

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Dodging relegation would continue the upward climb enjoyed by Wrexham during the four-year tenure of their Hollywood duo, who have always viewed their involvement as a long-haul mission for Premier League glory. Reflecting on ambitions earlier in January 2023, actor Reynolds declared: "In 10 years' time, the plan has and always will be the Premier League."

The Hollywood star told S4C: "Of course our aim is to reach the Premier League. Why not? If it takes five years, or 20 years, that's the goal. The most challenging thing about that would be the need to revamp the stadium, but that would be a really nice problem to have," reports the Mirror.

Reynolds' business partner McElhenney has also spoken of the club's ambitious goals, admitting: "From our point of view, this is a march towards the English Premier League. Nobody believes that it will be easy or that it is going to happen in the next few years."

However, Wrexham face a challenge this summer with EFL rules stating they can only register 22 senior players.

Despite the departures of several long-serving players, including Ben Tozer and Luke Young, the club still has 21 players on its books, potentially forcing them to sell before they can buy.

Despite this, there's a positive atmosphere around the Racecourse Ground, with manager Parkinson reflecting on their recent achievements with pride. He said: "It's a very proud moment for myself and all the staff but we always speak about how everybody has to pull together in a football club to achieve days like this we've certainly had that since I came in.

"It means so much because getting promotions and getting over the line at the end of the season is hard because everybody has wanted to beat us this season as we know, with the publicity that we got last year, teams have had that extra edge to try and beat us."