Before Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney transformed Wrexham AFC into a global phenomenon, several other clubs came tantalizingly close to securing their own Hollywood ending. The Welsh club’s remarkable rise under its celebrity owners has become football’s most captivating story in recent years, but newly revealed details show how different things might have been had fate intervened elsewhere.
Wrexham executive director Humphrey Ker has now disclosed that multiple teams across England, Scotland, and Ireland were considered before the Deadpool star and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator settled on the National League side. The revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into what might have been – and why Wrexham ultimately became the perfect project for the ambitious actor-owners.
When Reynolds and McElhenney first decided to invest in football, they weren’t specifically targeting Wrexham. Instead, they embarked on a wide-ranging search for a club that fit their vision – one with rich history, untapped potential, and a passionate fanbase.
“We looked at clubs in England’s lower leagues, some in Scotland, and even a couple in Ireland,” Ker explained. “There were serious discussions with a few before we found Wrexham.” The criteria were clear: the club needed to be in a position where investment could make a tangible difference, but also possess the kind of identity that would capture imaginations worldwide.
Among the clubs reportedly considered were historic English sides like Rochdale and Port Vale, Scottish outfits including Partick Thistle, and Irish league teams such as Cork City. Each had its appeal, but none quite matched what Wrexham offered.Several key factors made Wrexham the ideal choice. Its status as one of the world’s oldest professional clubs, dating back to 1864, provided the heritage Reynolds and McElhenney wanted. The club’s underdog status – having languished in non-league football for 15 years despite once competing in the second tier – created the perfect redemption narrative.
Crucially, Wrexham’s community roots ran deep. The club’s supporters had saved it from extinction in 2011 through the Wrexham Supporters Trust, demonstrating the kind of passion that appealed to the new owners. “There was something special about the connection between the club and the town,” Ker noted. “Ryan and Rob recognized that immediately.”
Geography also played a role. Wrexham’s location near the English border made it accessible while maintaining a distinct Welsh identity – an important factor for the Hollywood pair who wanted to preserve and celebrate local culture rather than impose an external vision.
While specific names remain confidential, Ker hinted at why some other clubs didn’t make the final selection. Some were too far up the football pyramid, where the financial requirements would have been prohibitive. Others lacked the clear growth potential Wrexham presented.
“One club we looked at had recently been through multiple ownership changes, which created uncertainty,” Ker revealed. “Another was in a location that might have made the global appeal harder to cultivate.” The presence of existing wealthy owners at some clubs also complicated potential takeovers.
In Scotland, the attraction of reviving a historic club outside the Old Firm duopoly held appeal, but concerns about the league’s financial structure and limited promotion opportunities ultimately steered the decision south. Irish clubs presented intriguing possibilities too, though the league’s lower profile internationally worked against them.
Since the 2021 takeover, Wrexham’s trajectory has been extraordinary. Back-to-back promotions have returned the club to the Football League, while the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series has turned the team into household name far beyond Wales. The club’s social media following has exploded, commercial revenue has skyrocketed, and the impact on the local community has been transformative.
It’s impossible to say whether the same magic would have happened elsewhere. What’s clear is that Wrexham’s particular combination of factors – its history, its struggles, and its community – created the perfect conditions for Reynolds and McElhenney’s project to flourish.
Other clubs might have benefited from Hollywood investment, but perhaps none could have become the global phenomenon Wrexham has. The documentary’s success, for instance, relies heavily on the authenticity of Wrexham’s story and the warmth of its people – elements that might not have translated as powerfully elsewhere.
Wrexham’s success has sparked a wave of celebrity interest in football club ownership. From Will Ferrell’s involvement at Leeds United to NFL stars investing in English clubs, the Reynolds-McElhenney model has shown how star power can elevate smaller teams.
Yet as Ker emphasizes, the Wrexham story isn’t just about famous owners: “What’s made this work is that Ryan and Rob genuinely care. They’ve immersed themselves in the club and the community. That level of commitment is rare, and it’s why other clubs haven’t been able to simply replicate our model.”
For the clubs that nearly landed the Hollywood treatment, there might always be a sense of what could have been. But for Wrexham, its fans, and the town itself, the fairytale continues to unfold in ways no one could have predicted when those first takeover talks began.
As the club prepares for its League One campaign, one thing is certain: the story of how Reynolds and McElhenney chose Wrexham over other potential clubs will remain a fascinating footnote in what has become one of football’s most remarkable revival stories. The right owners found the perfect club at exactly the right moment – and the rest, as they say, is history in the making.
