Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney sent ‘do it right’ warning in latest Wrexham battle – with Hollywood co-owners facing criticism from disgruntled locals over training ground plans

Hollywood co-owners at SToK Racecourse have earned plenty of praise, on and off the pitch, since completing a stunning takeover of the Red Dragons in 2021. Alongside the back-to-back promotions that have lifted the club into League One, a positive impact has been made on the wider community in North Wales.

Not every decision that Wrexham’s board have made has proved popular, though, with Reynolds and McElhenney accused of rushing through certain projects without green lights being given – with ambitious plans being drawn up for stadium redevelopment and the construction of a new training ground.

It is the training centre site which is causing problems at present, with planning permission being secured despite opposition from those that live close to Darland High School in the village of Rossett – which sits just outside of Wrexham.

The plan is for two buildings to be erected on an area of green land, along with changing facilities, offices, a medical room and gym. Reynolds and McElhenney have agreed to protect the area’s biodiversity as part of the multi-million-pound project, but not everybody is happy.

One councillor at the latest planning meeting said of work beginning before the relevant backing had been secured: “This is actually the third retrospective application from the football club for different things, whether it be the temporary stand or the signage on the stadium. This is the same organisation continually making retrospective applications and I have a real issue with that. Somebody needs to sort this out, stop putting retrospective applications in and actually do it right from the start.”

Another objector said: “I'm speaking against the planning application as the applicant needs to show that it is essential that these buildings are located in the green wedge. Essential means that this is the only location that can be used. It's common knowledge that the applicant had considered other locations for their football academy and these buildings. This facility and these buildings could therefore have been located elsewhere in the Wrexham area. It's not essential that these buildings are located in the green wedge.”

Wrexham are, however, eager to talk up the benefits of the scheme, with planning committee member Graham Rogers saying in support of the club: “I firmly believe a bit of common sense is required with what the owners of Wrexham Football Club have done for Wrexham in the past three or four years. They've done remarkably well, not just for the football club, but for the city in general. I firmly believe what we need to do is support the application and do what's best for Wrexham in general.”

A new training ground has been part of Reynolds and McElhenney’s grand plan for some time, with the Red Dragons requiring somewhere that they can call their own and get everybody under the same roof. They have been faring admirably without a permanent base, with Phil Parkinson’s side currently sat second in the third tier table.