24 November 2023 , 21:07
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It wasn't just fans that were excited about the job Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have done over the past two years - Sir Elton John has been impressed by what he's seen as well.
Shortly after Wrexham defeated Boreham Wood 3-1 to clinch the National League title to secure promotion to League Two, the icon reached out to Reynolds to applaud him and McElhenney on the job they've done in turning Wrexham's fortunes around in such short time.
"It's great, I phoned Ryan when they won and they got promoted, and I just think it's fantastic," Sir Elton said to BBC Sport. "They're on the ride that I was on. It's slightly different because times have changed but it's no more un-exciting... it's so exciting for them. I bet they have more fun doing that than any movie they've ever made."
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Despite having a minuscule net worth compared to some of the richest football club owners in the world, Reynolds is making the most of his opportunity as the co-owner of the Welsh club. The 47-year-old often talks about how he is taking the position as the co-owner of Wrexham seriously and is doing what he can to use his power to help the players and the town as a whole.
When Wrexham midfielder Anthony Forde's wife was diagnosed with a brain tumour, Reynolds went out of his to make sure the family was able to get a second opinion on the matter. The second opinion showed that the tumour was benign, allowing the family to breathe a sigh of relief.
Also, because of the notoriety Wrexham have developed with Reynolds and McElhenney at the helm, that has also trickled down to the players as well. With Jacob Mendy and James McClean out for international duty, manager Phil Parkinson believes that playing for Wrexham has allowed the two players to gain more recognition.
Wrexham CEO Shaun Harvey (left) has defended the club after Accrington owner Andy Holt blasted Ryan Reynolds. (Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)"It just shows that playing for Wrexham you're getting recognition, irrespective of being in League Two," Parkinson said. "The profile of the club, it's kind of a different level for a normal League Two club because of the reasons that everybody knows."
Still, owning a club can take its toll and McElhenney's face is proof of that. During Wrexham's run to promotion last season, McElhenney revealed that he developed a double stye near his eye from all the stress he had from the year and if the team would be promoted.
"With my nervous system, I still feel the anxiety from the end of the Notts County game," he told The Athletic. "I've mentioned in one of the episodes that I had a massive double stye. You can see them in the documentary. My eyes are swollen up like I'm a prize fighter. That was simply due to the stress."
Considering all the stresses that come with owning a football club, it's clear Reynolds and McElhenney are still doing what they can to help the team succeed and are taking joy in seeing how happy Wrexham's success makes the community.
And it's not just the players and the denizens of Wrexham that have noticed just how invested the two are - Sir Elton has too and is proud of what the duo have accomplished so far.