Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney don’t want players seeking ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ PR boost – with Ben Foster revealing contract warning that left him on the 'back foot’

The former Manchester United and England goalkeeper stepped out of retirement in March 2023 when agreeing a surprising switch to SToK Racecourse. The club's Hollywood co-owners, along with manager Phil Parkinson, were able to talk him into donning a pair of gloves again.

It was, however, made clear to Foster before he signed that he should not commit to the project in North Wales if he was not fully invested and merely wanted to experience some of the A-list glamour that Reynolds and McElhenney bring to the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series.

Foster, who helped Wrexham to the National League title before retiring again early in the 2023-24 League Two campaign, has told the latest edition of Fozcast: "I was properly on the back foot at nearly 40 years old when I had Phil Parkinson grilling me. He was very clear with me and very honest. He said, listen, if you’re coming here just for a bit of PR, then that’s not what we’re looking for. It’s not going to work."

Foster added: "If you’re coming here to work hard and help get us over the line, then this can be something. As soon as I heard those words, and I looked into his eyes, I thought that this is serious business here. I liked it."

Foster earned the trust of Parkinson and Co, with one memorable penalty save against Notts County making him a cult hero at Wrexham, but he walked away when accepting that another step up into the EFL was too much for him. The Red Dragons are now flying high in League One and chasing down a third successive promotion.