'Everyone thought it was a wind-up' - Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's arrival at Wrexham stunned former boss as Hollywood owners told to 'put their hands in their pockets again' after promotion to Championship

Reynolds and McElhenney have helped Wrexham rise from the National League into the Championship following their takeover of the club. The Welsh side are now just one step away from playing in the Premier League after achieving back-to-back-to-back promotions.

Former Wrexham manager Dean Saunders has admitted he was left stunned originally when he heard the duo would be taking over the club. Saunders has been impressed by the club's rise through the divisions but says more money must now be spent to build a competitive team that can compete in the Championship next season.

He told BBC Sport: "It's unbelievable... they've done it, and it's brilliant for the town. I thought it was a joke when these two film stars came in. I think everyone thought it was a wind-up. But it looks to me as if they're going to put their hands in their pockets again. They're going to have to because obviously you're competing with Premier League salaries now. In League One and League Two and the National League, there's not a lot of difference in the wages – a couple of thousand either way – but some of these players playing for, say, Leicester and Ipswich – they're on £100,000 a week. You've got to try and put a team on the pitch that can compete with them, which is difficult."

Saunders also thinks Wrexham can be competitive in the Championship: " Definitely. If you've got that momentum. Sorry to bring Man Utd up in this situation, but if you look at what gets into a club and makes the demise of it... Wrexham have got it the other way round, where they have got that winning formula, a winning confidence and everybody working their socks off at the club. And they have got that momentum which can make them compete. But it is going to be tough."

Wrexham have already announced plans to head Down Under for pre-season. The Welsh side will take on A-League sides Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC on July 15 and then head over to New Zealand to face Wellington Phoenix.