How Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney helped inspire crucial win for Wrexham from afar as Hollywood co-owners have ‘not been over for a short while’

The Red Dragons have reclaimed second spot in the League One table, with a historic third successive promotion now almost within reach. They have just eight matches left to take in this season, although rivals Wycombe – who sit directly below them – do have a game in hand.

Victory over the Chairboys on March 15, secured courtesy of a stunning strike from record signing Sam Smith, has helped to keep dreams of a top-two finish alive in North Wales. It has been revealed that Hollywood co-chairmen played a part in the picking up of three priceless points at Adams Park.

Reynolds and McElhenney are regular visitors to SToK Racecourse, as they star in the club’s award-winning documentary series, but neither has headed over to the UK in some time. That means inspiration is having to be delivered from afar.

Parkinson has told talkSPORT of supportive owners always being on hand for words of advice and encouragement: “Yeah, they've been great. Rob and Ryan have been brilliant, we got beat at Reading, you get those along the way and straight away next day both of them messaged me, ‘anything you need us to do, any help we can give you’. Which is great. You know when you lose as a manager you know it's like it doesn't matter where you are in the league.”

Parkinson added: “I said to Rob and Ryan I think just a nice little video message for the boys before the Wycombe game, just about ‘ten games to go lads, you know you've done great’. There's a bit of a supportive message because they've not been over for a short while so they did that and just little things like that help you know because it's not all on the manager. It's so when we win everyone takes the plaudits but it's important as well when it doesn't go as well that everyone pulls together around you, and Rob and Ryan have been great at that.”

Wrexham claimed another important win last time out, as they battled past old adversaries Stockport courtesy of a solitary strike from one-cap England international Jay Rodriguez, and will be back in action on Saturday when taking in a trip to Exeter.