Rob McElhenney identifies 'tragic flaw' in Wrexham's Premier League dream

Wales Online

13-05-2025

Rob McElhenney identifies 'tragic flaw' in Wrexham's Premier League dream
Wrexham's promotion to the Championship has led to huge celebrations in North Wales, but club co-owner Rob McElhenney has highlighted a downside to their meteoric rise
Rob McElhenney has spoken of his sadness at having to say goodbye to some of Wrexham's team
(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire )
Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has highlighted a "tragic flaw" in his club's rapid charge up the leagues. The Red Dragons have achieved three promotions in a row under McElhenney and fellow Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds.
The Hollywood duo have invested a significant amount of money since completing their takeover of the club in February 2021, lifting them from the National League to the Championship. Phil Parkinson's side have just finished celebrating their most recent promotion from League One after being treated to an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas.
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However, as attentions turn to next season, McElhenney has noted a significant downside to Wrexham's rise through the divisions. The North Wales outfit are expected to spend big this summer as they look to sign players of the right calibre to establish themselves in the second tier.
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It comes after McElhenney reiterated his long-held ambition of taking Wrexham to the Premier League. The It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator admitted that could mean saying goodbye to several stars who have been a key part of the club's success over the last few years and expressed his sadness at the prospect.
"It's brutal and the system that I was celebrating, of promotion and relegation, there's a tragic flaw in that," McElhenney told the Men in Blazers podcast. "Very often, the players who are helping the club achieve that goal and winning are winning themselves out of a job.
"That's tragic because they're giving everything that they can to help you win, and then their reward for that is to be let go as someone else takes their place and we are very cognisant of that. Another thing that's brutal, but I understand why, is how quickly Phil and every team has to make these decisions.
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Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have taken the club to the Championship
(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire )
"It's actually quite humane, though, because it gives people the opportunity to go and find other clubs. But we come back from Vegas, and I think within a couple of weeks, Phil will have made those calls and spoken to those guys being released."
Wrexham have yet to release their retained list but said farewell to a number of fan favourites last summer, including first-team captain Luke Young and club captain Ben Tozer. That pain could grow further during the next transfer window, with even star striker Paul Mullin facing an uncertain future after being frozen out of the squad since January.
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McElhenney first revealed his lofty aim of taking Wrexham to the top flight shortly after the takeover was completed just over four years ago. His bold ambitions were mocked in some quarters at the time, but the doubters have gradually dwindled in number and he candidly declared: "I just don't give a f***" when asked about their views.
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Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'.
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"People would laugh when we would say that, especially members of the press," McElhenney said. "But fans and lots of people would laugh and I always found that fascinating. I never got upset about it and I never got a chip on my shoulder about it.
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"I was confused because I never understood why that would be funny – that's the way that the system is set up. Somebody else set up the system so that you could theoretically take a team and bring them up to the top. Why would you set up the system if you didn't believe that it could be done?
"Teams have proved that before, so I've always found it interesting and not offensive that people would laugh at that goal. I don't hear them laughing as loud now as they did four years ago, but they probably still are somewhere in the world. I just don't give a f***."