'Anti-Wrexham' agenda dismissed as Ryan Reynolds' Premier League dream outlined

25 July 2023 , 06:33

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Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have lofty ambitions (Image: Getty Images)

Phil Parkinson says Wrexham must believe they can reach the Premier League – after watching Luton soar their way up to the top-flight.

Wrexham, owned by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, gained promotion to the Football League last season and want to make it all the way to the Premier League.

Luton have made the fairytale journey, becoming the first club to go from non-league to the Premier League, and Parkinson said Wrexham must believe they can do the same.

Asked about Wrexham's famous owners saying their ambition is to reach the Premier League, Parkinson said: "When you look at teams like Luton, who have gone up, you have to say 'why not?'

"You have to [believe it can be done], because Luton were in this position, so I don't think it's a case of us getting carried away with it ourselves.

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"If you understand that you need to build a club properly and put the foundations in place, like Luton Town have done, then why can't Wrexham emulate them one day?

"Years ago Bournemouth, under Eddie Howe, were on the brink of going out of business, and got into the Premier League.

"Blackpool have also got into the Premier League, so there's lots of examples. So why not Wrexham? But at the moment we're concentrating on the start of this season.

“It's very exciting for us. I think League Two is going to be a good one this year. Teams like Gillingham, Mansfield, Bradford – Notts County coming up - are all spending money because they've all looked at us and thought 'we need to up our game a little bit, because it's going to be a bit more competitive'.”

Wrexham are back in the football league after achieving promotion last term (Getty Images)

Wrexham's remarkable rise was captured in the documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham', which charted the club's resurgence under new owners Reynolds and McElhenney.

Parkinson, whose side face Manchester United in San Diego in the early hours of Wednesday, admitted Wrexham have a target on their backs, because of their famous owners and all the attention they have generated.

But he said he has not encountered any jealousy or envy from rival clubs, because they would love to be in Wrexham's position.

“All the people I've spoken to at away grounds, like opposition players, they've all enjoyed the story,” said Parkinson.

“They want to beat us, but when we have a drink afterwards, people say 'I loved watching the show' and opposition fans say the same.

“So I haven't really picked up any anti-Wrexham feeling, because genuine football people love the story. Teams go the extra yard to beat us, but I haven't detected any jealousy.

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“It's an amazing story. Two years ago we played Nantwich Town in our first friendly, this year it was Chelsea in Florida in front of 50,000.”

David McDonnell