'I love the rivalry with Wrexham!' Tom Brady lifts lid on Birmingham's 'budding' feud with Ryan Reynolds' and Rob McElhenney's Welsh dragons as both sides prepare for new life in the Championship

Birmingham minority owner Brady revealed he is enjoying the competitive edge there is between recently promoted League One teams City and Wrexham but he also stressed that the Welsh side's owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have done an incredible job since taking over in 2021. The American added that both clubs are confident they are on a "path to success".

When asked if he looked at what the Wrexham owners were doing in regards to a blueprint for success at Birmingham, he said on the Men in Blazers YouTube channel: "Yeah, how could you not hear about what they've done and [not] be excited about what their team has achieved? Since they took over, I think they've done things in football that have never happened before. They've become friends with myself, with (Birmingham owner) Tom Wagner. I've known Ryan for quite a while and I've gotten to know Rob pretty well over the last five or six years. I am so happy for their success because it means a lot to them.

"They care for that entire organisation; they've provided a great blueprint to be successful. A lot like them, we feel the same way that we have a great path to success, and now it's about execution. I love the fact that we have a great rivalry between these two clubs. We're not down there on the pitch doing it. The players have to go out there and do it but when that match happens, it's going to be quite a sight to see."

Birmingham look primed for an assault on the Premier League after romping to the League One title, in addition to splashing the cash on eye-catching signings. But Wrexham, who have secured three promotions in a row and came second behind City last season, are doing the same and will be intent on being in the promotion picture in 2025/26. As Brady says, a budding rivalry is brewing here, although their feud with Aston Villa is a much bigger kettle of fish.

Brady added: "I think maybe a rivalry in the making. I think everyone knows the feelings involved, certainly of all the Birmingham City supporters, when it comes to Aston Villa. They're probably more of the rival, even though there hasn't been much of a rivalry in the last 15 years or so. But prior to that it was all Aston Villa and maybe it's Wrexham in the making. But I love rivalries. Rivalries bring out the best in all of us. It heightens your sense of emotion and focus, it allows you to continue to reach new levels because you realise the enormity of these moments in terms of what they'll mean for the rest of your life. I love the rivalry with Wrexham, I'd say the budding rivalry. But truly Aston Villa is the team Birmingham City would love to beat."

Both Wrexham and Birmingham are just over a week away from kickstarting their Championship season as the Blues host Ipswich Town on August 8 and the Red Dragons travel to Southampton the following day.