Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney considering shock new sporting investment as Wrexham co-owners hold talks over blockbuster £20m deal with national governing body

The Hollywood stars have been calling the shots at SToK Racecourse since completing a stunning takeover in 2021. They have enjoyed considerable success in footballing terms, with back-to-back promotions lifting Wrexham into League One.

Reynolds and McElhenney also form part of an investment group that owns stakes in Mexican side Necaxa – with another Welcome to Wrexham style documentary being lined up there – and the Alpine Formula 1 team.

According to The Sun, Reynolds and McElhenney have held talks with the ECB regarding a move to buy into the Welsh Fire franchise – who will be back to compete in the 2024 staging of The Hundred. The England and Wales Cricket Board are looking to raise around £500m from the sale of 49 per cent stakes in the eight teams taking part in The Hundred.

It is claimed that the Welsh Fire would be the cheapest team to get involved with, but would still set Reynolds and McElhenney back approximately £20m. US bank Raine Group – who have previously handled the sale of Chelsea to a Todd Boehly-led consortium and helped Sir Jim Ratcliffe to acquire a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United – are overseeing talks that could see famous faces at Wrexham branch out into white-ball cricket.