Wrexham warned Championship promotion will be a 'shock to the system' despite Ryan Reynolds' & Rob McElhenney's riches

Wrexham’s dramatic journey through the lower tiers of English football, supercharged by the star power and funding of co-owners Reynolds and McElhenney, has captivated fans around the world. After taking control of the historic Welsh club in 2021, the American duo have helped engineer a record-breaking rise, leading Wrexham to three successive promotions — an unprecedented feat in the English game.

Yet, with their place in the Championship now secured for the 2025–26 campaign, Wrexham are being urged to brace for an entirely new level of competition. Despite their impressive achievements to date, former Premier League defender Alan Hutton has cautioned that the leap into the second tier of English football could bring a stark dose of reality.

Speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest football odds, Hutton said: "When you're used to winning week in week out for a number of seasons, you just feel that when you step out onto that pitch, that's all that's going to happen. But when you start going up the levels, you then understand how difficult it can be."

Hutton emphasized that the Championship is a completely different battlefield, populated by clubs with much deeper pockets, seasoned squads, and even recent Premier League pedigree.
"The gap in budgets, again, will still be big in terms of where Wrexham are and where some of the other teams are," he said. "So you're competing with that. You're competing with huge teams as well, Premier League teams, effectively. So it's going to be difficult for them.

“They're going to have to get used to that, but it's about having the right mentality. When it doesn't quite go yourself, sticking together, there have been a good bunch that have been together for a number of years.

“They know what it's like to kind of fight through the leagues. So they'll know it's not going to be easy. It's going to be tough. But again, just solidify yourself in the Championship and continue to build. I think that's probably the right way forward for them.”

Reynolds and McElhenney’s commitment to Wrexham extends far beyond mere investment. The duo have been vocal about their long-term dream: to guide the club all the way to the Premier League. With global attention on their every move, the upcoming summer transfer window is expected to be a crucial period of reinforcement as they attempt to strengthen Phil Parkinson’s side for the tough challenges that await in the Championship.