‘It’s not pretty’ – Why Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney ‘could have done better’ at Wrexham despite overseeing trip to Wembley & record-breaking promotion

A stunning takeover at SToK Racecourse was completed back in the spring of 2021. Quite the journey has been enjoyed from there. Wrexham have taken in a trip to Wembley, returned to the Football League in record-breaking style and pieced together an immediate push for promotion out of League Two.

Reynolds and McElhenney have helped to make all of that possible, but Red Dragons director Shaun Harvey has said when casting an eye over three eventful years: “Yes, we could have done better. We could have got promotion that first season. But I think the majority of people are happy with where we are at the moment and if you can keep the majority happy then that's probably not a bad result. Off the field, we continue to drive a path forward. It's not pretty around the edges at times. The objective of the club was to get as far forward as quickly as possible and in doing that, there are always going to be things that are missed or could have been done better. We continue to find our way through the more challenging periods and it is always with the eye on making sure that we give the team the best chance of being successful.”

Stars on the field – such as Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee – have helped to steer things forwrd, while off it head coach Phil Parkinson has embraced life under the brightest of spotlights. Harvey added: “You can only watch on in admiration of the playing squad and Phil, and what they have succeeded in doing. It is alright in theory but it doesn't work unless the players deliver in practice and they deserve massive kudos for what they have achieved so far. But knowing them, they know they've achieved nothing yet. It's a little bit like being ahead at half-time, it counts for nothing if you don't win the game. The playing squad know they've given themselves a great opportunity but equally, they know they have got to finish the job as well for the work they have done so far to deliver the fruits that it deserves.”

Wrexham, who continue to star in what is now an Emmy Award-winning documentary series, sit second in the League Two table as things stand – five points adrift of leaders Stockport with a game in hand. They will be back in action on Saturday away at Salford, with another transfer window set to have swung shut by then.