Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have offered a candid glimpse into the financial demands of running Wrexham AFC in England’s soccer leagues by petitioning fans to purchase merchandise to keep the club going.
In a humorous yet revealing advertisement, the duo repeatedly encourages fans to “act now” shedding light on the immense costs associated with managing the third tier side, who are currently third in EFL League 1 with 13 games to go.
In the promotional video posted online, Reynolds and McElhenney characteristically poke fun at their financial reality by changing into various versions of the club’s kit while making self-deprecating remarks.
The Deadpool star opens the clip by acknowledging Wrexham’s recent signings, calling them “pretty legit players,” while McElhenney highlights the club’s future plans for a “shiny new” stadium-something Reynolds quickly labels as “expensive.”
“Running a football club is like lighting money on fire,” Reynolds says in the video. “Except it doesn’t keep you warm,”
Whilst McElhenney adds, “Picture a black hole. Now throw your wallet in it.”
The two then turn their attention to urging fans to take advantage of a 50% off sale on team merchandise.
They repeatedly ask viewers if they are “acting now,” with Reynolds quipping, “You may think it’s all fun and games, but you haven’t received a call from Rob McElhenney at 3 a.m. screaming bloody murder, ‘This thing is bleeding me dry every single f***king week!'”
Fans attempting to make purchases overwhelmed the club’s website, leading to temporary crashes and timeouts.
Some social media users joked that Reynolds and McElhenney’s plea for help was so effective that it unintentionally crippled the club’s online store.
How much have Reynolds and McElhenney invested?
The actors took ownership of the Welsh club in November 2020 for a reported $2.5 million and have since loaned Wrexham an estimated $11.4 million to help guide the side to promotion through the fourth and fifth divisions.
Overall, financial experts estimate their total investment in the club to be around $25 million, and with plans for a new stadium and high-profile player signings, the financial burden continues to grow.
The costs of English soccer can be extraordinary. For example, the Premier League’s Manchester City spent $228.6 million in four weeks alone, comparable to Jordan Love’s contract with the Green Bay Packers.
With an annual turnaround of $7.75 billion, this highlights the large task ahead for Wrexham in their bid to climb the English football pyramid to reach promotion to the top division for the first time in their history.
