It's a whole new ball game

Reynolds and Hollywood pal Rob McElhenney have fallen in love with Britain's beautiful game and even though the star admits he hasn't a clue, he still hopes to propel Wrexham to the big time

- RICK FULTON

HOLLYWOOD superstar Ryan Reynolds loves owning a football club but admitted: "I really have no idea what I'm doing.

The Deadpool actor, 46, and fellow actor Rob McElhenney bought Welsh club Wrexham the third oldest professional association football team in the world for a reported £2million in 2021.

The Red Dragons are in the National League - the fifth tier of the English professional league system and are managed by former Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson.

They narrowly missed out on promotion to EFL League Two last season their first under Ryan and Rob's ownership.

Ryan said: "I'm enjoying it but I really have no idea what I'm doing. It's kind of absurd how new it all is.

"But one thing I do know about is storytelling and I feel it is overlooked how important that is to sports.

"They are driven by emotion so storytelling can help grow a club in a really beautiful and distinctly amazing way. I love that aspect of it, and Rob and I both love everything about Wrexham for that reason.

Canadian Ryan, who played ice hockey as a kid, decided to buy Wrexham in memory of his sport-loving late father James and to honour his Celtic heritage - he has Scottish and Irish roots.

The pair aim to help Wrexham make it to the Premier League "within 25 years" and reckon everyone loves an underdog story.

They got involved after speaking to British comedian and writer Humphrey Ker, who worked with Rob on comedy series Mythic Quest.

Humphrey is now executive director of Wrexham and manages the day-to-day running of the club.