Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney 'credibility' doubts erased after League One promotion as Wrexham chief insists Welsh club are no longer just a 'novelty act'

After 15 years in the National League, Wrexham earned promotion to League Two just over a year ago and last month they finished in the automatic promotion spots to reach the English third-tier. However, many, perhaps, didn't take the Red Dragons too seriously due to their Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. However, club director Shaun Harvey says their rapid ascent up the English football pyramid shows they are "nearer to the mainstream", rather than a gimmick.

The Wrexham director told Forbes: "One of the main things that being promoted to League One gives you is it gives our story credibility. There was always the question asked: ‘Who are these two blokes and what are they really doing wanting to own a National League football club?’ There were suggestions it would only last as long as the first two series of the documentary—we’re on series three. Or it would only last as long as they remained interested— well, they’re still here and we’ve been successful.

"Because we’ve made the level of progress we have on the pitch, it’s actually moved the club from being seen as a little bit of a novelty act nearer to the mainstream. And if we’re going to be successful as a business, we need to be in the mainstream rather than viewed as a novelty act, but whilst we’re in the mainstream, we have to do things differently. That’s what the documentary and the marketing platform it creates with the club allows us to do."

Wrexham have set their sights on reaching the Premier League one day. Their owners have pumped in millions to the club but also used their documentary, Welcome to Wrexham, and lots of sponsorship deals to help fund the Welsh outfit. But their biggest test is likely to come when life in League One begins in August.

While Wrexham's players are enjoying their summer breaks before returning for pre-season in late June, Harvey and co are preparing for the challenges of League One. Getting their recruitment right will be key to having a good fist at it in the English third-tier.