'Naive' Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney sent strong Wrexham transfers warning ahead of potential 'huge step-up' to the Championship

The Red Dragons have enjoyed a meteoric rise under the stewardship of Hollywood co-owners, with a remarkable adventure – which has been caught on camera by the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series – carrying them from National League mediocrity to within touching distance of the Championship.

Reynolds and McElhenney have never shied away from the fact that they want to lead Wrexham into the Premier League, potentially with more A-list investors welcomed aboard along the way. Big money has been spent on reaching this point.

More will be required, though, in order to hit ultimate targets, with the Welsh outfit being advised that there can be no room for sentiment when it comes to squad building. Stuart Webber, who was promoted to the top-flight as sporting director at Norwich and Huddersfield, has told ESPN: “The step-up to the Championship is huge, and I think what people have to remember about Wrexham, which has been an amazing story so far, is that some of their players were with them in the National League.

“People don't realise how big the gap is between League One and the Championship: Norwich are mid-table, and 75% of their squad are international players. Outsiders will automatically look at the success of Ipswich, who did the double-promotion, but they did spend a lot of money in League One and brought very good Championship-level players in.

“Wrexham haven't really done that: they've done it on more of a budget. They spent big money to get out of the National League and the same to get out of League Two, but less so this time around, so to expect them to go up and then be super competitive based purely on momentum, it would be quite naive to think that.”

Webber added on the challenges that lie in store for Wrexham, with relatively smooth sailing having been enjoyed on the back of a stunning takeover in 2021: “One thing I'd say about the owners is that everything they said they were going to do, they've done.

“They haven't been like fake owners, which often clubs have had, who start off with a load of enthusiasm and then the money runs out and then you never hear from them again. Rob and Ryan have delivered and really connected with the club, but if Wrexham are promoted, I hope the project gets the patience that it needs and they don't get some harsh lessons as a Championship club.”

Wrexham are not across that line yet, with there still nine games for them to take in this season. A vital victory over Wycombe last time out has lifted Phil Parkinson’s side into the automatic promotion spots, but the Chairboys are only three points back, with a better goal difference, and boast a game in hand.