Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have outlined their bid to own UK-based football club Wrexham AFC.
The pair want to buy the Welsh club from fan owners Wrexham Supporters Trust.
There will be a vote among fans – which kick-starts today – to decide whether the Dead Pool and It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia actors should take the reins at the football club.
Formed in 1864, the club is the third oldest professional football team in the world and now competes in the National League – the fifth tier of the English Football League system.
The actors outlined their plan on a Zoom call on Sunday and have since released a mission statement on the club’s website about their hopes for the club.
In the statement, the pair announced they were keen to widen the club’s appeal to a “global” level.
If voted in, they plan to increase club staff to take advantage of the “increased interest” in Wrexham “both locally and internationally”.
They also stressed their desire to “win, win, win” and pledged to “always beat” arch-rivals Chester.
A promise was also made to “protect the heritage” of the club, reinforce its “values, traditions and legacy” into the community and to reward fans for their loyal support.
The pair pledged to provide financial support to the club, invest in its future, assist with renovations and make their processes more eco-friendly.
They wrote: “We’re two people who’ve made a career of never taking ourselves too seriously. However, we realise taking stewardship of this great and storied club is an incredibly serious matter and something we don’t take lightly.
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“Under any other circumstance, we’d be in Wrexham right now, touring the Racecourse Ground, having a pint with supporters in person.
“But 2020 has other plans for us all.
“We hope you’ll put your trust in us, because we’ll work every day, for as long as you’ll have us, to ensure the world knows that Wrexham is the name.”
More than 2,000 members are eligible to vote for the club’s future.
For Reynolds and McElhenney to win, the R.R McReynolds Company application will need the approval of at least three-quarters of the fan’s membership.
Voting commences today and will end on 15 November. A decision is expected the following day.
