159 CommentsWrexham's players are getting excited about their promotion party in the casinos of Las Vegas But manager Phil Parkinson can already count the winnings from betting on the value of experience "Just come back alive," were the final words to his squad following the season finale 2-0 win over Lincoln, telling them to enjoy the Sin City trip that has now become an annual part of Wrexham's promotions under co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney But among those listening were players who have looked almost born again under the manager Parkinson has plenty to think about during close season Could Wrexham really reach the Premier League Wrexham's remarkable rise - and what comes next Steven Fletcher was ready for retirement before arriving in north Wales and contributing a key nine goals to win a second promotion he is not being ruled out of a contract extension that could see him become the oldest player to take the field in the modern-day Championship Jay Rodriguez signed in the winter window from Burnley to provide vital impetus to the successful push for the second tier took his number of assists to seven when he set up Ryan Longman for the second in the win over Lincoln to further underline his ongoing importance to the side but it's true: this is the most enjoyable time of my career," said McClean "I've been honoured to play 150-odd Premier League games and 103 international caps but it's about winning things and enjoying winning things being remembered - and that's what I'm doing here and I'm loving every minute of it." Players who may have been seen by some as turning up for a cameo and a contract have - in contrast - fully bought into the Wrexham project Former Scotland international Steven Fletcher's contract expires next month but he has hinted he would be keen to continue playing at Wrexham As well as the obvious quality of the senior figures at third-tier level what has been more important for Parkinson has been the mentality "Just being around them has been massive for me personally," adds full-back Longman knowing they've been in these situations before; you feed off them they make you feel calm and that you can go out and perform." who knows it's not only the promotion race his players have had to deal with but the Hollywood spotlight because of their celebrity owners Perhaps it should be no surprise Wrexham ended the season unbeaten in their final 10 games as rivals buckled "In the last few weeks players stood tall saying 'this is what it's all about'," said Parkinson who now has six career promotions after his back-to-back-to-back efforts with Wrexham "That's what you've got to be to play for Wrexham because there's big expectations a lot of spotlight on us and you have to handle that." McClean says Parkinson's man-management has been key to Wrexham success and made him a "legend" of the club That is how former Republic of Ireland international McClean describes a club who have looked a perfect fit for him since signing from Wigan Athletic last summer Fletcher is the only outfield player older than McClean But while the former Scotland striker has made all bar two of his 40 appearances from the bench McClean is behind only 22-year-old Max Cleworth in terms of Wrexham minutes this league campaign He is regularly described as the fittest player in the squad and plays with the attitude of a rookie trying to earn a contract rather than a veteran winding down during a final pay day "When you have someone who is such a good man-manager you will go above and beyond to repay that faith," says McClean "He has put a lot of trust in me which is something I treasure and cherish." Parkinson plays that down and instead puts it down to the players' professionalism. He has previously told the story of McClean being involved in a car accident earlier in the season only to turn up at the training ground the same morning "I didn't want to milk it and we had an important game," says McClean of the incident a player who has proven divisive over the years and more often than not is booed at pretty much every game by opposition fans It tends to prompt louder backing from the Wrexham support who have come to idolise a player whose work ethic has set a standard and brought success Admitting he has had a "mixed reception" at some of his past clubs there is a clear connection between McClean and Wrexham fans - with images of the promotion celebration testament to that - which he says has helped spur him to this late career revival "As long as you've got the backing of the manager all the rest is outside noise and has no bearing on me," McClean said "I've been used to it my whole career You either embrace it or go under and that's never been me." This reflects why Parkinson brought such experience and attitude into his squad knowing it could deal with the cameras and cope with the expectation "Long may it continue," says McClean as he now looks forward to a return to the Championship "We were told last season we wouldn't get out of this league so who knows this club loves defying the odds – a bit like myself." And a bit like their manager whose calculated gamble on the notion you can't buy experience has paid off To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser View comments | 159Top storiesLive Champions League semi-final updates: Calafiori back for Arsenal; Dembele returns for PSG Stunning stats and 'Ronaldo behaviour' - is Yamal cut out to rival Messi Real seek to sign Alexander-Arnold for Club World Cup A gritty crime saga set in Liverpool starring Sean Bean Stacey Dooley explores Britain’s shoplifting epidemic Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Is the risk that Mercedes took with Antonelli paying off Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China 'Calamity keeper' or 'human wall' - which Donnarumma will Arsenal face Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Solskjaer on Besiktas Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Getty ImagesPublished5 May 2025Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has "earned the right" to manage in the Championship once again after leading his side to a third successive automatic promotion Parkinson says he is relishing a return to the Championship with Wrexham following the "complete and utter carnage" of his last stint in the division with Bolton Wanderers. Having led Bolton into the Championship in 2017 and kept them in the division the following season amid turmoil at the club when players were not paid for months Parkinson was unable to keep the Trotters in the second tier for a second successive year Ex-Wales international Andy Legg was a team-mate of Parkinson's at Reading and told the Radio Wales Sport Phone In: "He's earned the right," Legg told "He's been there with Bolton and he said he had a bad time with Bolton and wants to put that right "He's that type of person – he's very determined "He doesn't take second best and he'll make sure everybody will work hard and you can see that with his players on the pitch stick with him but I think Wrexham will stick with him." PSG's Dembele fit for second leg against Arsenal US EditionUK EditionScottish SunIrish SunSearchMy Account Published: Invalid Date Paul Mullin seems set to remain at Wrexham - despite the striker losing his regular place in the squad this season The 30-year-old frontman has been the Red Dragons’ leading star as they have risen up the EFL over the last few years However, he has found it difficult in League One, struggling to make the team at all throughout the club’s promotion-winning campaign Mullin, who has scored 110 goals in 172 games for Wrexham, hasn’t played a single league game since January, being left out by manager Phil Parkinson on a regular basis He’s fallen out of favour while competing for a starting spot alongside £2million signing Sam Smith and ex-Premier League forward Jay Rodriguez Steven Fletcher, Jack Marriott and Ollie Palmer are also striker options, so Wrexham have had to juggle their forward line Mullin’s absence every week raised questions over whether he has a future at the club But Parkinson has now confirmed what the plan is regarding Mullin and fellow striker Palmer, who has also struggled for game time.  The Wrexham boss labelled the pair as ‘legends’ and revealed they are set to be staying.  "What level that has been doesn't matter because everybody's been together and contributed there's always players who would have liked to have played more so I'm delighted with everybody as a group "Mulls and Ollie will always be legends at this club for what they've done "They're under contract next year and they'll be back in pre-season ready to go again." This decision comes after Wrexham’s executive director, Humphrey Ker, told talkSPORT what Mullin needs to potentially get back into the team I just think he’s had two very disrupted pre-seasons in a row he broke his ribs and punctured a lung two summers ago “I think that perhaps what he needs more than anything is a massive essentially not have an off season and work extra double hard and hopefully force his way back into a team that will be in the Championship.” There have also been claims that Mullin shouldn’t stay at the club next year it now seems his future remains at Wrexham The final game of the League One season for the Red Dragons comes on Saturday against Lincoln Mullin may feature in that game and it seems that won’t be his final appearance in a Red Dragons shirt if Parkinson’s stance remains Pre-season for the club’s first-ever Championship campaign will then begin later this summer Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds sent out an emotional message to Wrexham fans on social media after the final day of the League One season Record-breaking third promotion in succession Fifty-one different clubs have played in the Premier League – but there are still some teams that we can’t believe have never played in the competition Brighton and Brentford in recent seasons has given hope to a host of their former lower league contemporaries while the likes of Blackpool and Luton Town have also managed a season at the top level We’ve identified the seven biggest clubs that have never played in the Premier League since the competition’s inception back in 1992 Bristol is a bigger footballing city than many outsiders realise; the Downs League is the biggest amateur set-up in the country and both City and Rovers have a strong core of support despite their lack of success While Rovers have just been relegated to League Two City came within a Dean Windass goal of making the top-flight in 2008 and have been Championship staples for the past decade Ashton Gate has been rebuilt into a smart 27,000-seater stadium that hosts both international matches and the club has felt primed for Premier League football for a while But the team has rarely threatened to finish above mid-table until the 2024-25 season when Liam Manning’s side put themselves firmly in the play-off picture The odds would be against City surviving in the modern-day closed shop Premier League without big investment but away fans would enjoy the novelty of an away day in Bristol if nothing else Preston North End are a storied club that won the First Division title in 1889 and 1890 and have also been runners-up on six occasions The Lilywhites are also the club that Sir Tom Finney one of the true greats of English football scored 210 goals for in 473 appearances between 1946 and 1960 But North End have not been in the top division since 1961 and have seen neighbours Burnley Blackpool and Wigan Athletic all enjoy spells in the Premier League Preston reached the Championship play-off final in 2001 and 2005 but lost out to Bolton and West Ham respectively modern stadium that wouldn’t look out of place in the Premier League but Preston are in danger of dropping into League One following a terrible run of form Millwall played their only two seasons in the top flight in the late eighties and narrowly missed out on the inaugural Premier League season of 1992-93 The notoriety of the club’s fanbase is known throughout Europe and we can’t imagine the Metropolitan Police would be thrilled by the prospect of Millwall in the top flight But another part of us would relish seeing the gilded elite visit The Den and welcome Millwall’s presence as an antidote to the increasingly bland Premier League would capture the imagination of both twig-limbed violence enthusiasts and old school football men relishing some blood and thunder action Plenty of similar-sized London clubs have established themselves in the Premier League Plymouth is the largest city in England never to have played host to a game in the top flight Argyle have spent the last two seasons in the Championship but will be relegated in 2024-25 after the ill-advised appointment of Wayne Rooney as manager Devon is an often-overlooked part of the country so if Argyle were to ever reach the Premier League Wrexham has been constantly in the headlines during the last three years since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased the club in November 2020 the Welsh club have leapt from the National League to the Championship in three seasons and the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary has won the club a ton of new supporters from America who were founded in 1864 and are the oldest club in Wales Wrexham’s highest league position came in 1979 when they finished 15th in the second tier While the club’s aim will be to consolidate in the second tier next season the ultimate aim of their celebrity owners is to see Premier League football at the Racecourse Ground before too long READ: 7 players from League One who have fallen off the footballing map Notts County are the oldest professional club in world football famously inspiring Italian giants Juventus to adopt black and white stripes as their home kit They won the FA Cup in 1894 and spent time in the top-flight in the 1980s and early 1990s They were relegated from the First Division in 1992 – the season before the inception of the Premier League – and haven’t threatened to return since After well-documented financial issues and the madness of Sven-Goran Eriksson managing the club in the late 2000s County have qualified for the League Two play-offs in 2024-25 With Meadow Lane still a stone’s throw away from Nottingham Forest and the City Ground County’s ultimate aim will be to play their near rivals in a league game Port Vale are the second-biggest club in Staffordshire behind Stoke City who have spent a decade in the Premier League between 2008 and 2018 coming closest to promotion in the 1996-97 campaign when they finished 8th And the club have just been promoted back to League One for the 2025-26 season While the odds of Vale making the top-flight any time soon are small plenty would’ve said the same about Bournemouth and Brentford not too long ago The 6 managers Cristiano Ronaldo scored fewer than 10 goals under: Ten Hag 5 top footballers we can’t believe are still awaiting their first major honour 9 footballers who refused to celebrate after scoring against their former club 6 of the most infamous guards of honour in football history: Chelsea 7 free agents we’d love to see in the Baller League UK A combined XI from promoted & relegated clubs that could achieve Premier League survival The clubs with the most league titles in world football: Celtic Seventeen years to the day since bidding farewell to the Football League at Lincoln City’s Sincil Bank Wrexham’s emotions couldn’t have been more contrasting on their return we’re on our way…” sang the 1,861 jubilant supporters lucky enough to get a ticket for the final act of a season that has seen history made in north Wales A third consecutive promotion, sealed with victory over Charlton Athletic means Wrexham standalone in the pantheon of fallen EFL clubs who have pulled themselves together in non-League Where the unknown lay ahead for the world’s third oldest professional club when leaving Lincoln in 2008 now it is new stadiums never visited before such as Leicester City and Southampton on the agenda plus first league meetings with West Bromwich Albion and Ipswich Town Phil Parkinson’s side signed off with a 2-0 victory both goals coming in the second half from Elliot Lee and Ryan Longman Saturday was about much more than the result It was about a sense of pride restored and a promise of what lays ahead in a division in which the club last competed in 1982 “The Championship is one of the most watched leagues in world football,” says Parkinson we were fighting our way out of the National League but now we are competing at that table it is up to us to prove we can live in that company Just as we did when coming into League One last season We showed it then and we have to do it again.” Thursday June 26 is the date Wrexham fans will have ringed in the summer diary Only then can the planning begin for the weekend of August 8-10 and the start of what promises to be a truly momentous campaign at the SToK Cae Ras The sense of excitement evident at Lincoln is only likely to grow throughout the summer judging by the chanted countdown among a travelling band of fans that included one T-Rex a host of traffic cones and at least three Mexicans “Sixty minutes to the Championship…” began a chant that continued all the way down to zero and referee Thomas Kirk blowing the final whistle As the close season gets under way — and the Wrexham players this week jet out to Las Vegas for their now traditional celebratory trip — it’s surely worth one last look-back at 2024-25 and an unprecedented third straight promotion Football’s wider public realising just how serious Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds are in their quest to take Wrexham to the top Talk of the Premier League when a club is languishing in non-League is easily dismissed as fanciful Returning to the EFL fold and even the third tier doesn’t make it feel any more likely such is the gulf between the top table of English football and Leagues One and Two Wrexham sit just one step away from fulfilling their owners’ dream considering it’s just two years since Parkinson’s side signed off their stint in non-League at Torquay United who on Saturday were competing in the National League South play-offs Unlike previous campaigns when there were plenty of humdingers this time around has felt to be a much calmer affair An indication of that comes via the ten 1-0 wins plus another seven triumphs by a one-goal winning margin There’s still been plenty of entertainment, mind, with the 1-1 draw at home to champions Birmingham City early in the New Year a fine advert for League One as was the 2-2 draw away to Charlton in October even if it was Wrexham on the end of some late drama this time via a 96th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot Sam Smith heading in Wrexham’s third goal against Charlton to rubber-stamp promotion The visitors had never looked like getting back into the game after going 2-0 behind inside 18 minutes but there’s always that doubt over how one goal could change everything Smith heading in Max Cleworth’s cross on 81 minutes meant the party could start One unheralded aspect about Wrexham’s third promotion is how much their discipline has improved compared to the 2023-24 season when Parkinson’s side had six players sent off To go from such a damning rap sheet to not having even one player dismissed in 46 league fixtures this time around shows how hard the manager has worked on sorting out what had become a problematic area Only Rotherham United boast an unblemished record in League One this season stays in Vegas,” said James McClean when asked by The Athletic after the Lincoln game what his team-mates who have joined in the last 12 months can expect from this week’s players’ trip to Sin City But we can’t look past Charlton manager Nathan Jones’ pre-match comments regarding his side’s trip to Wrexham on the penultimate weekend we have to go to the circus and see what we can get,” he said now f*** off home,” came the retort time and time again from a pumped-up Racecourse crowd to Jones Paul Mullin no longer being Wrexham’s main man Just three goals from 26 league appearances (17 from the bench) is not what supporters have to come to expect from the usually free-scoring Liverpudlian and there will be big questions over his future this summer Don’t write the 30-year-old just yet, mind. He’s now missed two consecutive pre-seasons after suffering a collapsed lung and four broken ribs in 2023 and undergoing back surgery last year If Mullin can have a problem-free run at 2025-26 He was immense in the 3-1 win for Birmingham clearly way too good for this level after joining from Celtic A special mention should also go to Lee Gregory and Will Evans the Mansfield Town strike force who caused all manner of problems at The Racecourse back in November Tyler Roberts also carried a real threat despite Northampton Town’s 4-1 defeat in October 9/10: Rarely put a foot wrong and was not worried to make the big calls particularly at the start of February when a reset was needed after an awful first month of the year had yielded just four points from five games Out went fans favourites Mullin and Ollie Palmer as Smith and Jay Rodriguez came in to form a partnership that ultimately got Wrexham over the line via two defeats in 17 games together The shift in tactics to effectively 3-5-1-1 in late November may not have won universal backing from supporters 27 wins and 24 clean sheets thanks to a manager whose mentality was perhaps best summed after the Lincoln game by the man himself “I like to win a game of cards against my kids,” says Parkinson There’s no doubt this squad needs major surgery to compete in the Championship Arthur Okonkwo (The Athletic’s player of the year) Cleworth and Smith look ready but others may struggle with the step-up A recurring theme this summer is likely to be the need to pay players to leave as there will inevitably be some surplus to requirements who are under contract and unlikely to command anything like their wages at Wrexham It’s a price the club must pay for such a rapid rise the Championship is a step-up from anything Wrexham have seen in years to stay up quite comfortably is surely an achievement on a par with those three straight promotions.” (Top photo: Reynolds and McElhenney after promotion After three successive promotions McElhenney and Reynolds will see their club take on their biggest challenge yet in ‘one of the most competitive leagues in world football’ A social media soundbite from Rob McElhenney was typically revealing. “If I’m being honest I don’t even know what the word consolidation means,” the Wrexham co-chair said. Days earlier, in between wheeling around the Racecourse Ground celebrating promotion from League One he told Ryan Reynolds things were about to get “a little pricier from here on” Wrexham: welcome to the Championship. After three successive promotions to earn a slice of English football history, the Welsh club and their owners are steadying themselves for one of the most chaotic and competitive leagues on the planet. So if there are no plans to consolidate, where do they go from here? Reynolds and McElhenney have known nothing but success since their takeover in February 2021. From a missed promotion in 2021-22, their side have romped through league after league, making a mockery of cynics’ predictions on the way. Read moreBut the Championship is a behemoth and McElhenney is wise to prepare for a dramatic increase in costs Wrexham’s many critics will indicate they have been able to use their money and celebrity status to cherrypick the best players from higher divisions to aid their sharp rise even amid spurious transfer links with high-profile free agents such as Kevin De Bruyne and Jamie Vardy Their revenue is no match for the bigger Championship clubs says: “We’re going into one of the most competitive leagues in world football I don’t think people outside football quite realise But what we’ve always tried to do is make sure the culture in the club is right You always need extra quality when you go up a level but it’s going to be the right people coming into the building.” The director Humphrey Ker says: “People will talk about the money The aim has always been to live within our means so the club doesn’t suffer when Ryan and Rob move on Parkinson says any big-name signings would struggle to top Reynolds and McElhenney for superstar status anyway He praises the Hollywood duo for their smart and selfless ownership their mantra being: “We don’t make football decisions.” That humility will be all-important to survive and compete in the Championship for all Reynolds’ claims that the Premier League has always been the goal “There’s lots of ways owners can be supportive: it can be to make sure we get that key player when we need it most but it can also be support when results don’t go your way They’re invested in all the decisions but they trust us and that’s been a key element to our success “You look at people who buy football clubs – and there’s lots of examples recently – and I think: ‘Hmm that’s going to be an expensive learning curve for you.’ Because if you buy a business you have to employ people to run it for you unless you’ve got great experience.” Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson kept Bolton in the Championship in 2017-18 despite the club being under a transfer embargo Photograph: Paul Currie/Colorsport/ShutterstockParkinson has his own scars from the Championship He still ranks sealing second-tier survival for Bolton in 2017-18 as one of his greatest managerial achievements Wanderers were under a transfer embargo yet defied the odds to stay up They began the next season locked out of their training ground and with players on strike over unpaid wages Free daily newsletterKick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football who will continue to sign and sell players with the goal of challenging the Championship status quo “The speed we’ve evolved as a club means some great players great characters have left us,” Parkinson says “But my job is to keep improving the squad all the time.” One player who may have to leave with a heavy heart after Wrexham complete their season at Lincoln City on Saturday is Paul Mullin The striker scored goals by the bucket-load in the National League and League Two to earn folk hero status in Wrexham but has been frozen out in recent months after the January arrivals of the club record £2m signing Mullin is 30 and has never played in the Championship “There’s a lot of tough decisions to be made,” Parkinson says “We’re going to recruit the right players and get the squad as strong as we can a 5,500-capacity facility that includes hospitality sections to generate more revenue and a roof that will amplify the atmosphere although it will not open until summer 2026 – by which time Wrexham will hope to be in the Championship at the least “I’m confident we’ll be ready,” says Parkinson “We need to evaluate in terms of the budget the wages those players are going to demand and balance that quality with the culture we’ve built here We’ll sit down and reflect with the owners.” After Parkinson joked that Reynolds and McElhenney “must think this game is easy” it is clear the next chapter in Wrexham’s Hollywood story will be the most captivating Stewart WhittinghamPublished: Invalid Date AMERICAN and Japanese tourists seek some Hollywood glamour when they make a pilgrimage to Rob Clarke's second hand DVD shop The owner of Mad4Movies happily pulls his cardboard cut-out of Deadpool actor and local club owner Ryan Reynolds for the football tourists as they soak up all things Wrexham AFC has his own claim to fame as he starred in Disney+ documentary Welcome to Wrexham which charts the town's incredible football fairytale The club has just secured a third historic promotion after beating Charlton Athletic 3-0, taking them from non-league to the Championship and one step from the Premier League In delirious scenes, the club's owners Ryan, 48, and his fellow Hollywood actor Rob McElhenney hugged the players as the fans raced onto the pitch at their Racecourse Ground Ryan was also joined by his Gossip Girl actress wife Blake Lively who also greeted fans in the stands Now the Welsh club, which was formed in 1864 and is the third oldest in the world, has an army of fans around the world. Foreign tourists fly in to take in a game and take coach tours of the former mining town. It's a welcome turnaround for an area once dubbed 'Spice Town', after images emerged of people under the influence of drugs at its bus station, in 2018. But the "Ryan and Rob effect" has meant the town is teeming with visitors - boosting the local economy and creating jobs Tourism and hospitality revenue has increased by £120m in just three years and is now worth £180 million Lifelong fan Rob said: "Ryan and Rob came to the shop when they first bought the club "They wanted to meet fans who'd supported the club for a long time Ryan said he's never seen so many DVDs and then he said: 'There must be one you've never sold we won't talk about the Green Lantern' Ryan.' That got in the documentary." Rob added: "I can't believe how far the club has come - it's amazing "A while ago we nearly went out of existence and we were only saved by a fan whip round which raised £100,000 "Now we have fans come in for coach tours so all over the world." Walking down the main shopping street in the town one ex-player said he is stunned by the club's transformation who played for the club in the 1985-86 season said: "It's great - it's galvanised everybody "It's a massive season in the Championship as it's a big step-up we might see four promotions in a row." He added: "The club has changed a hell of a lot "But it's big time now and I'm still a small part of it being chairman of the former players' association "So I just stay involved a little bit the town is buzzing with thousand of people here enjoying the limelight." The last few years since Ryan and Rob took over it's just boomed in football and tourism Other fans cannot also believe the transformation of the club said: "Three promotions in a row - I never thought I'd see it "It's fantastic for the town." said: "There's just this buzz around Wrexham "The last few years since Ryan and Rob took over "More people want to invest in the the town "It's fantastic to see the growth and what these two lads have brought to Wrexham "Wrexham seemed to be on the up and just doing its own thing but they have shone a spotlight and given it a good boost." Shop worker Eleanor Swash, 18, works in a Wrexham AFC pop-up shop in the town She said: "We got lots of tourists from all over - America, Canada, Germany and Japan "It's crazy really but it's so good for the town." Dad-of-four Ryan has recruited a host of his Hollywood friends to the Red Dragons causes including Danny DeVito and Will Ferrell He even took Magic Mike star Channing Tatum to The Fat Boar pub on a Friday night in December and bought everyone a drink said: "We got a phone call from their team who said they'd be here in half an hour The Ryan and Rob effect seems to be getting bigger all the time "We had a singer performing and they got on the mic to say drinks were on them "We then put them upstairs in a room." He added: "This place has become closely associated with the team "We get lots of tourists especially Canadian and Americans "In fact we are getting more and more Americans "The Ryan and Rob effect seems to be getting bigger all the time "I mean it must be them as you don't normally get many Americans coming to Wrexham on holiday." The club itself is in a healthy financial position thanks to Rob and Ryan's backing and shrewd deals Club accounts going up to June 2024 covering their season in League Two show revenues of £26.7million - which is a figure greater than seven of the Championship clubs The Red Dragons have now even been linked to some stellar Premier League players including Man Utd's Jonny Evans and Leicester City's Jamie Vardy And the latest series of the Welcome to Wrexham doc is to be screened on May 16 Wrexham Council's lead member for economy said: "The impact of Ryan and Rob as well as the documentary has been phenomenal "We used to go to trade fairs and people would see we were from Wrexham and just walk past "Now they are beating down our door." CO-OWNER Ryan Reynolds hasn't been able to make it to Wrexham in recent weeks due to filming commitments But that hasn't stopped him from watching his team in style Streaming the match on a laptop or even a TV was not grand enough for the Deadpool star as he worked on the set of his latest movie he could not resist broadcasting Wrexham’s recent game on to the huge projector Reynolds and his crew watched on as the Welsh side notched their 23rd win of the season against Crawley Town He looked enamoured as the game played on behind him while surrounding by various pieces of Hollywood machinery And Reynolds captioned the moment: “Watching the Wrexham game at work: new level unlocked.” It’s not clear what project Reynolds was working on at the time with the actor currently developing several new movies including sequels to smash hits Free Guy and Red Notice Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Wrexham “need to get into the Premier League to really hit mainstream America”, but Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have £35m ($46m) of “headroom”. Ryan Longman's goal against Lincoln City was his first for Wrexham Wrexham kept the promotion celebrations going as they signed off from League One with a comfortable and clinical win at Lincoln City Elliot Lee and Ryan Longman's second-half goals earned a 27th victory of a campaign that sees them return to the second tier for the first time in 43 years It took Phil Parkinson's side onto 92 points ending the midtable Imps' unbeaten run at home that had stretched back to February Michael Skubala's Lincoln finished 11th in the final table 15 points ahead of the relegation places and 17 points off the play-offs runners up behind title-winners Birmingham City again underlined why they will be playing Championship football next season after an unprecedented third straight promotion as they made the most of the chances they forged Providing the quality when it mattered and staying strong defensively when needed has been key for Parkinson's team who will now be playing second-tier football in three months' time – two years on from being in non-league It was fitting that it was Lee who opened the scoring too; the only change from last week's promotion-sealing win over Charlton Athletic the midfielder was among those who had been in the side that had earned that first step out of the National League Wrexham were – understandably – below par to begin with with Lincoln perhaps frustrated they failed to make more of their opponent's off-key start The first-half drabness was in contrast to the final day colour provided by supporters certainly among the travelling Wrexham fans In a fancy-dress farewell to the third tier clowns and – of course – Deadpool all made the most of the occasion Wrexham had been forced to say farewell to the Football League in their final match before relegation to non-league Times are different now and it is why supporters were keen to make the most of the moment before the celebrations there was time for remembrance and reflection with fans of both sides staying solemnly silent as respects were paid 40 years on from the Bradford City fire disaster Lincoln had been the opponents on that tragic day at Valley Parade with two Imps fans – Bill Stacey and Jim West – among the 56 who died Mr Stacey's family and Lincoln captain Paudie O'Connor laid a wreath in front of the Stacey West Stand it was Lincoln who enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes If not for some sharp reactions from Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo Skubala's side could have easily taken a lead into the break with both James Gardner and Reeco Hackett threatening But Wrexham emerged from the interval far more like their promotion-winning selves with their rediscovered energy rewarded 53 minutes in as Lee powered a header home from Longman's cross from the right It was a sweeping move from Wrexham for the breakthrough and it was another impressive passing combination that provided the second with Longman this time finishing after being played in by James McClean Lincoln substitute Jack Moylan was denied at the near post by Okonkwo as the Imps tried to dampen the party atmosphere But Wrexham kept their clean sheet to continue the celebrations to end an historic season for the north Wales club Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales: "We wanted to finish in a professional manner and we spoke to the lads about that "The perception of the group celebrations last week and the lads jetting out to Vegas this week – but in between that we wanted to finish the season well I'm really pleased with that and I'm also delighted with 26 points from the last 11 away games – that's an outstanding return at any level of football the wind was probably stronger than people realised and we didn't quite get the control we wanted Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "I honestly thought we were so good first half – we did everything but score You saw a team that wanted to take it to Wrexham "But you always know against Wrexham that if you don't score they stick it out and they win 1-0 which is put it in the box and score to make it 1-0 and then it becomes a really tough afternoon "Not where we wanted to finish this season but I'm really proud of the lads and really proud of what they've been doing." The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Marriott at 85 minutesSubstitutesNumber 29 Revan Match OfficialsReferee: Thomas KirkAssistant Referee 1: Oliver BickleAssistant Referee 2: Andrew EllisFourth Official: Scott OldhamMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightLincoln City have lost just two of their last 11 home Football League games against sides from Wales (W8 D1) winning each of their last two whilst scoring exactly three goals in both Wrexham have won each of their last five Football League games against Lincoln City each of Lincoln’s last 12 final games of a Football League campaign have come on home soil with the Imps winning two of their last three (L1) Wrexham have won each of their last three final games of a Football League campaign with their only away match in that time witnessing the Welsh side beat Lincoln 4-2 in 2008 Freddie Draper (Lincoln City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked Jack Moylan (Lincoln City) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick Zane Okoro (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time Thomas O'Connor (Wrexham) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high Steven Fletcher (Wrexham) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal Tom Bayliss (Lincoln City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked James Collins (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the attacking half Jack Moylan (Lincoln City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked Assisted by Tom Bayliss with a headed pass Steven Fletcher (Wrexham) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner Jack Moylan (Lincoln City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner Thomas O'Connor replaces Oliver Rathbone Getty ImagesPublished5 May 2025Wrexham found final weekend motivation by showing they were not distracted by parties and were very much still focused on points Phil Parkinson's side beat Lincoln City on the final day finishing the season as League One promotion-winners in second behind champions Birmingham City Blues stormed to the title earning a stunning 111 points the best total ever in an EFL season and equalling the English system's professional record set by Parkinson's side when they jumped from the National League in 2023 Wrexham were 19 points behind Chris Davies' side in the final table but set themselves apart in history by earning an unprecedented third straight promotion with a 3-0 win over Charlton last week they were still keen to finish on a high by reaching 92 points - an average two per game - with defender Ryan Longman saying: "We finished the season ten games unbeaten and to get through the 90-point barrier "All the lads wanted it because it's just a nice achievement." Manager Parkinson added: "We wanted to finish in a professional manner; the perception of the group celebrating last week but in between that we wanted to finish the season well and 92 points in 46 games Strikers Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin have scored eight goals between them during the 2024-25 season Manager Phil Parkinson says currently out-of-favour Wrexham "legends" Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer will be involved in the club's pre-season amid uncertainty surrounding their futures has not featured for the Red Dragons in the league since a 3-2 defeat by Stevenage on 28 January but remains under contract with the club until 2027 Since that loss to Alex Revell's side at the Stok Cae Ras also failed to get any further League One action as Wrexham secured promotion to the Championship Palmer still has a year left to run on his deal with the club but amid questions over the future of the pair in north Wales Parkinson says both Mullin and Palmer will go down in Wrexham folklore for the roles they have played in the club's three successive promotions What level that has been doesn't matter because everybody's been together and contributed," the Wrexham boss told BBC Sport Wales "Of course there's always players who would have liked to have played more They're under contract next year and they'll be back in pre-season ready to go again." Mullin is the club's seventh highest goal scorer of all time having netted 110 times since joining from Cambridge United in the summer of 2021 Palmer has contributed 44 goals in 149 appearances since moving from Wimbledon midway through the 2021-22 season Parkinson recalls Bolton 'carnage' as Wrexham rise A number of players including forward Steven Fletcher defender Eoghan O'Connell and goalkeeper Mark Howard see their contracts expire in the summer Having secured their place in the Championship for next season by beating Charlton Athletic 3-0 last time out Parkinson admitted the club will now focus on resolving a number of squad issues "Because of the promotion we haven't had a chance as a staff or with the owners to sit down and look at the overall picture We'll start to do that as quickly as possible," he added Parkinson is expected to make a number of additions to his squad during the course of the summer transfer window as Wrexham prepare for their first campaign in the second tier in 43 years And while eager to improve the quality within his ranks the 57-year-old remains determined to ensure the culture at the club is not disrupted "We've got a group who understands what it takes in terms of the professionalism through a season and the work ethic in each and every game We want to make sure we maintain that because it's very important," Parkinson said we've got to make sure we keep as we look to improve the quality level as you always do." Wrexham will celebrate another promotion with a party in Las Vegas for the third year running - if Rob McElhenney has his way The Welsh side secured second spot in League One to earn them a place in the Championship next season A 3-0 victory over Charlton at the Racecourse Ground ensured the Red Dragons had claimed a historic third successive promotion Wrexham's Hollywood co-owner McElhenney was quizzed last year on what he planned to do with his squad this season if they managed to earn a dramatic three-peat Speaking to Hulu on a red carpet last year we promised that they would be sent to Vegas Wrexham's tradition of celebrating in Las Vegas started in 2023, after the club won the National League title and returned to the EFL. Phil Parkinson's side were already due to be in the United States for a series of friendlies that summer when their famous owners rewarded them with an all expenses-paid trip to the infamous 'Sin City'. "Ryan and Rob told us to leave our cards at home They sent us a full itinerary just now." During the first trip, Wrexham's National League-winning team were treated to a pool party hosted by actor McElhenny and his wife Kaitlin Olson and attended a number of parties and events apart from that we can’t complain,” former club captain Ben Tozer told talkSPORT and then we went to Hakkasan Nightclub and they treated us to the best tables which was again the best tables and the best layout for us then in the evening it was Omnia Nightclub and four of us got to go up on stage with Steve Aoki followed by dinner out on the balcony at the Bellagio then we were at XS Nightclub where The Chainsmokers were playing then we had to get up and go in the morning.” Retired former Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster also revealed his estimation of how much the Hollywood duo spent on the trip Speaking on The Fellas Podcast the goalkeeper said: "I went on the Vegas trip.. "The way that Rob McElhenney and Ryan (Reynolds) put it on for us "We got there and it was just straight to the shower go to Hakkasan for dinner and then we're going to Hakkasan nightclub straight afterwards it had to be because they just looked after everything." League Two promotion last year brought back third-tier football to the Racecourse in two decades - and meant a return to Vegas has shown how much she was on board with the annual trips to the Entertainment Capital of the World the actress wrote: "Another promotion next year Wrexham have duly delivered again this season, but one man who has been a key figure behind their success won't be in Vegas told talkSPORT's Hawksbee & Baker: "I've not been on any of the Vegas trips I see a lot of pictures of everybody with their tops off "And Rob can sort of hang with that because he's quite fit as an actor I really can't...I try and leave them to it and let them enjoy it." Wrexham have enjoyed a remarkable rise since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took over in February 2021, securing three consecutive promotions to climb from the National League to the Championship. While their success on the pitch has been clear the club’s off-field operations have been equally as impressive On the latest episode of The Athletic FC Podcast Ayo Akinwolere was joined by Matt Slater and Wrexham correspondent Richard Sutcliffe to discuss how the club’s impressive turnover figures will give them a solid foundation to compete in the Championship A partial transcript has been edited for clarity and length. The full episode is available on YouTube below or in The Athletic FC Podcast feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  The Athletic reported how at the end of June 2024 Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had lost almost £11million ($14.7m) in getting Wrexham to League One you wrote that last season their turnover had more than doubled to £26.7m in their first year back in the EFL so to get that sort of money is unheard of at that level I’m told the income won’t be massively different this year in League One and obviously they’ve just gained promotion But that now takes them into a new division where we’re talking about teams with incomes in the £100m range because of the parachute payments which is a very different playing field to where they’ve been before It sounds like they need to get into the Premier League to really hit the mainstream in America But even though they’re nowhere near that right now they’re still earning a lot of money for a team at their level You mentioned that £26.7m; 52 per cent of that sum came from abroad Which again shows the strengths of their business model Even though it sounds like they’ve got a hell of a long way to go They are on a different playing field now with the money in the Championship because you’ve got clubs who are losing £25m just to tread water and end up in the middle of the division But what I will say about them going up is they’ve got a bit of headroom if they want to go for it but they still lost £2.7m last season and I’ve been told it’s going to be a similar loss this season they could still lose £35m and be within the Championship’s PSR rules If they did go straight up again then obviously they’d have problems the following year because they couldn’t then breach it any further than that But they’ve got some headroom to have a go and I’m fascinated by what they do this summer because they haven’t really spent irresponsibly They’d spent a lot of money on wages until January but it was still only £590,000 for Mo Faal back in September and took over Jay Rodriguez’s Burnley contract which was a significant step forward for the club But there’s going to be a hell of a lot more than that now if they’re going to prosper rather than sink in the Championship Matt: If you look at Wrexham’s turnover profile That’s what I would expect to see from Liverpool They’ve also quadrupled their turnover since the National League days so that is a League Two snapshot we’ve got A big club in League Two — like Bradford with the biggest gates — earned about £9m if you think about a big club in League One like Portsmouth who got promoted last year so they’re twice as big as Portsmouth in terms of turnover because Richard has told us their turnover number is going to be similar for this season they’re already earning more than Hull City And the way the Championship works is you either get a parachute payment or you don’t Parachute payments for clubs tend to be £60m-70m but it’s lower at the moment because it’s three up and three down and we just keep replacing them (Southampton Leicester and Ipswich went straight back down) There are fewer clubs than there traditionally have been with parachute payments but they average a turnover of between £60m to £70m They’re your Leeds Uniteds or Leicester Citys Then the 18 or 19 others are on about £20m to £25m And that’s before they get the £9m boost on TV revenues meaning Wrexham are going to go into the Championship as the best-of-the-rest in terms of turnover You can listen to full episodes of The Athletic FC Podcast for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and watch on YouTube. (Top Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) 11 CommentsPhil Parkinson says he is relishing a return to the Championship with Wrexham following the "complete and utter carnage" of his last stint in the division with Bolton Wanderers The Red Dragons sealed a third successive promotion last time out by beating Charlton Athletic 3-0 at the Stok Cae Ras to secure a return to the second tier for the first time since 1982 Having led Bolton into the Championship in 2017 and kept them in the division the following season amid turmoil at the club Parkinson and assistant coach Steve Parkin departed the club in August 2019 after the club had been placed in administration but the Wrexham boss says he is looking forward to testing himself against a higher level of coaches again me and Steve that year we kept Bolton up was one of our greatest achievements of working together That was tough and then the summer," he told BBC Sport Wales "We actually started the next season well and then we had five months without getting paid I've never experienced anything like that "When people say about pressure and stress I always say working at Bolton and not getting paid for five months and trying to get a team motivated as a staff first of all we're looking forward to testing ourselves against a higher calibre of managers So we can't wait to test ourselves next year." Club co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were both in attendance as Wrexham secured their all-important victory against Charlton Parkinson revealed he held talks with the Hollywood duo in the aftermath of the match in north Wales to reflect on the latest glorious chapter in the club's meteoric rise "I had a good chat with Rob after the game and on Sunday," added the Wrexham boss "Me and Ryan have exchanged quite a few messages this week and everyone's just reflecting "We were just reflecting on the occasion because for those people who were there at the weekend to seal Championship status and the whole atmosphere of the day is just something people won't forget "I'll never get bored of speaking to our supporters who were at the game." Wrexham sign off the 2024-25 campaign at Lincoln City on Saturday (15:00 BST) View comments | 11Top storiesLive according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire That would represent a valuation increase of 7,400% since Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the club for around £2m in 2021 the club were in the fifth-tier National League - but Saturday's 3-0 win over Charlton secured a third successive promotion It means they will start next season in the Championship - playing at that level for the first time since 1982 - with their eyes set on a Premier League spot Wrexham were valued at around £100m in March 2025 before the club's latest financial figures were released and promotion was confirmed "I suspect promotion was factored into the original valuation to a degree but with the brand connection to the owners and now being 46 games away from the Premier League that could add on another 50% to the value," Maguire told BBC Sport "Ipswich were valued at £100m in February 2024 (before their promotion to the Premier League that May) so a good start to the season could push Wrexham above that by 50% or more due to the Ryan and Rob factor." Rob McElhenney (left) and Ryan Reynolds (right) with Wrexham executive director Kaleen Allyn Reaching the second tier for only the second time in the club's history means access to more revenue and it is likely so too will the value of sponsorship deals Wrexham have also made appointments behind the scenes with the aim of increasing the club's financial power who has held roles with Inter Milan and DC United was named the club's chief executive in May 2024 And Kaleen Allyn became an executive director in January She and her father Eric Allyn - whose entrepreneurial family sold the Welch Allyn medical diagnostic business for more than $2bn in 2015 - have become minority shareholders with a stake thought to be between 10-15% The US TV-produced documentary Welcome To Wrexham has played a major part in raising the club's global profile since it began in 2022 Wrexham do not earn money directly from the show but its popularity has been significant in helping improving club revenue streams And there is no sign of the global interest waning with McElhenney being vocal about wanting to increase the scope to sell Wrexham shirts in the USA - as the club have had more matches screened there than any other EFL side Wrexham's revenue for the 2023-24 financial year stood at £26.7m when they were in League Two - a 155% rise from the previous year's £10.5m which the club believe is a record for a League Two side Wrexham's non-league revenue was recorded at £1.148m the biggest outgoing was wages - of £11m - which explains why Wrexham still posted a loss of £2.72m albeit lower than the previous year's £5.11m Next year's accounts will measure their League One campaign during which the club's transfer record has been broken on a number of occasions and the wage bill has risen Competing in the Championship would almost certainly mean spending more on the squad - and there is also the cost of ground development to factor in: The club are planning to build a new stand at the Kop end of their Stok Cae Ras home next season and capacity will be limited while construction takes place But the Wrexham buzz - and upward financial trend - is showing little signs of slowing This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team Why do some Welsh clubs play football in England? Are hamstring injuries getting worse in the Premier League? What is a tifo banner? Why are FA Cup semi-finals played at Wembley? Contact formContact formRelated topicsWelsh FootballLeague OneWrexhamFootballComments can not be loaded View comments | 202Top storiesLive Getty ImagesPublished30 April 2025Former Wrexham midfielder Waynne Phillips is in no doubt that the club will be active in the transfer market again this summer as they look to challenge for a top-six place in the Championship next season Phil Parkinson's team secured promotion to the second tier of English football with a 3-0 win against Charlton Athletic last Saturday Wrexham are the first team in the history of English football's top five divisions to claim three successive promotions - but Phillips is not ruling out a fourth "The team that played on Saturday, only three of them were in the Wrexham team at the end of last season," Phillips told this week's Coridor Ansicrwydd podcast "They've strengthened every summer and that's what I see them doing again If you stand still you won't go anywhere but they need another six to nine new players And that's what I expect to happen." Phillips also expects outgoings over the next few weeks with Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer among the players he thinks will depart with the duo not even featuring in matchday squads during the League One run-in "It will cost them to get rid of a few I can't see Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer at the club next season," Phillips added Jay Rodriguez and Matty James - can they do it in the Championship again And will they offer enough to make Wrexham competitive "I've said for a long time that Max Cleworth is good enough for the Championship Getty ImagesPublished30 April 2025Wrexham will hold a promotion party at the Stok Cae Ras on Sunday 24 hours after their final League One game at Lincoln City The event will feature live music and Wrexham's end-of-season awards Wrexham Lager Stand and Stok Cold Brew Coffee Stand will be open for the event with supporters having to pay £5 to attend A stage will be set up on the pitch for Wrexham to present their player-of-the-season prize along with other men's first-team awards with players and staff then expected to perform a lap of honour Wrexham will compete in the second tier next season for the first time in 43 years Rex FeaturesPublished4 May 2025Wrexham curing their away day blues was an "outstanding" factor in their latest promotion Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Red Dragons had picked up just 13 points from their first 12 away games of the League One campaign But Saturday's 2-0 win at Lincoln City in their final game made it 26 points from the final 11 fixtures on the road – meaning they improved their return more than twice over Wrexham's season hit a worrying point in February when they lost at struggling rivals Shrewsbury They had managed just four wins on their travels with their away record worse than any side that had got promoted to the Championship over the past two decades But Phil Parkinson's side went on to collect seven further wins losing just once to leave the six-times promotion winner delighted "It's an outstanding return at any level of football so I'm really pleased with that," said Parkinson after goals from Eliot Lee and Ryan Longman at the LNER Stadium wrapped up their second-pace finish to earn the club a place in the second tier for the first time in 43 years Matty James joined Wrexham last October having been released by Bristol City last year Wrexham dropped out of the League One automatic promotion places despite coming from behind to earn a point against relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers at the Stok Cae Ras Jed Ward produced fine saves to deny Max Cleworth and Ollie Rathbone as Wrexham carried the greater threat from the outset Elliot Lee and Ryan Longman then missed the target for the hosts as Iñigo Calderón's side sought to find a foothold in the contest But the visitors - who had the worst away record in the division before kick-off - took the lead just after the half-hour mark as Taylor Moore headed Matt Butcher's corner beyond Arthur Okonkwo to notch up his first goal for the club with Moore heading wide from a Kofi Shaw cross as the away side led at the break Watched by Hollywood co-owner Rob McElhenney Phil Parkinson's men needed an improvement on what turned into a potentially damaging afternoon in their quest to join Birmingham City in gaining automatic promotion to the Championship Wrexham kept clean sheets in eight of their 10 league games prior to facing Bristol Rovers Striker Sam Smith headed wide five minutes after the restart before substitute Steven Fletcher had a header tipped over the crossbar as Wrexham's six-game unbeaten run came under threat But they levelled proceedings in the 76th minute as Longman's cross eventually landed at the feet of Matty James who coolly slotted beyond Ward to set up a tense finale But Wrexham were unable to find a winner as they slipped to third one point behind Wycombe Wanderers who are second after beating Bolton Wanderers going into the final three games of the season After ending their six-match losing streak Bristol Rovers stay 21st but move level on points with 20th-placed Burton Albion who have a game in hand "I thought first 30 minutes we were OK we had decent control without producing in the final third there weren't enough players to grab hold of the game and be the man to inspire us back into it and I just felt we went into our shells a little bit as a team we got back into it but still we didn't feel we produced anywhere near enough quality today to go and win the game Obviously it's disappointing to only take a point." Bristol Rovers boss Iñigo Calderón told BBC Radio Bristol: I'm obviously disappointed because we were 1-0 up and you want to get the three points "I think overall you can see that this team is alive that's a big thing at this stage of the season." To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played Calderon: "A lot of positive things..." Sinclair at 84 minutesSubstitutesNumber 28 Ward Match OfficialsReferee: Martin CoyAssistant Referee 1: Callum GoughAssistant Referee 2: Grant TaylorFourth Official: Richard EleyMatch StatsKey Scroll LeftScroll RightWrexham are unbeaten across their last four Football League games against Bristol Rovers (W3 D1) winning their last encounter at the Racecourse Ground 2-0 in October 2006 Bristol Rovers have won just two of their 20 away Football League games against sides from Wales (D4 L14) Wrexham have lost just two of their last 14 Football League games played on Good Friday (W9 D3) a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa in March 1972 & a 3-0 loss to Swindon Town in April 1984 Bristol Rovers have won just two of their 22 away Football League games played on Good Friday (D4 L16) Matty James (Wrexham) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right James Wilson (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half George Dobson (Wrexham) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left Assisted by Oliver Rathbone following a set piece situation Ryan Longman (Wrexham) wins a free kick on the right wing Dan Scarr (Wrexham) wins a free kick in the defensive half Isaac Hutchinson (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left Jack Hunt (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half Ryan Longman (Wrexham) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked Rex FeaturesPublished4 May 2025Thousands of Wrexham football supporters joined players and club officials at an end-of-season promotion celebration at Stok Cae Ras on Sunday Long queues formed outside the ground as the crowd waited for the gates to open before the event to mark promotion to the Championship The event featured musical acts as well as the club's annual end of season awards Midfielder Ollie Rathbone was named the player of the season with defender Max Cleworth winning the young player award and the player's player of the season Paul Mullin won the goal of the season award for his volley in the win over Blackpool on Boxing Day with Elliott Lee the top goalscorer Long serving club secretary Geraint Parry was recognised for his contribution with a lifetime achievement award Wrexham won promotion with a 3–0 victory over Charlton Athletic last weekend sparking huge celebrations with fans thronging the pitch at the end of the game They were joined after the game by co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds who said Wrexham had made "history" despite people doubting their ambitions were realistic Wrexham will compete in the second tier next season for the first time in 43 years with eyes on reach the Premier League after three successive promotions Related topicsWelsh FootballLeague OneWrexhamFootballTop storiesLive Getty ImagesPublished4 May 2025Phil Parkinson joked he would switch off his phone while his Wrexham players celebrate a third successive promotion in Las Vegas later this month Wrexham finished their League One campaign with a 2-0 win at Lincoln City on Saturday. Having sent players to the United States following promotion from the National League and then League Two co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney promised the squad a third visit to the famous 'Strip' should they secure their place in the Championship for next season That's the main thing this week," defender Max Cleworth told BBC Radio Wales after his side's 3-0 victory over Charlton Athletic last weekend I don't think I'll sleep until we go." And manager Parkinson says the carrot of a trip to Nevada's 'Sin City' has given his players an added incentive to achieve success under the ownership of Hollywood duo Reynolds and McElhenney "They deserve the trip," he told BBC Sport Wales and the owners said at the start of the season that they'd go again "That's a good target as well during the season not just getting promotion and what it means to everybody "Having that group together next week [in Vegas] will be amazing I just want a message when they're all back in the country in one piece and that's all I need to know." Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s celebrity status isn’t the only thing that led their clubs to the Championship Read moreAnd yet both clubs’ ownership have defied the cynics. Birmingham and Wrexham have spent big – really big in the case of the former who splurged £25m on transfers last summer – but something meaningful is happening at the Racecourse Ground and St Andrew’s Here’s a five-step plan for other North American owners on how to run a British club successfully “It’s been hard to buy into the North American optimism but they have gradually eroded the generational pessimism ingrained in cynical Wrexham fans who have rightfully been cautious given how the club so nearly went out of business,” says Rich Fay of the RobRyanRed podcast Anyone who has watched Welcome to Wrexham knows it’s a series that’s only so much about the actual soccer. It’s actually about the lifelong fan who owns the pub next door. And the club’s powerchair team. And the town which has struggled in the post-industrial era. Wales itself is a character. A Birmingham City documentary series is also coming. That the new Amazon show is to be directed by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight suggests Blues will follow the formula established by Wrexham in telling a story beyond soccer. Star players used to be enough for a club to shift some jerseys around the world. That was before Welcome to Wrexham changed everything. It might not be a fairytale, but Wrexham in particular has been a hugely compelling story to tell. Read more3) Invest in yourselfLess than a year after arriving Birmingham City’s new owners bought 48 acres of land for a new stadium It was a statement of intent that highlighted Wagner’s ambition with the ‘Sports Quarter’ development on an under-utilised site near the city centre estimated to cost £2-3bn ($2.6-$4m) Money has also been spent to renovate St Andrew’s and the training ground Outsiders might consider his team talks and fist pumping cringey but Birmingham fans see someone whose passion for the club can’t be questioned Tom regularly puts his credit card behind the bar for fans to have a beer,” said Chris Goulding of the We Are Birmingham podcast and blog The club hopes to start construction of a new 5,500-capacity Kop stand soon recently unveiling an updated design inspired by Wrexham’s red brick traditions This is a town nicknamed ‘Terracottapolis,’ after all It’s also a town where nearly 8,000 children live in poverty something the recently revamped Wrexham AFC Foundation wants to tackle The pragmatism of Parkinson-ball might be even more valuable in the Championship when Wrexham will regularly face opponents with better players and bigger budgets. While other nouveau riche clubs might have grown restless and changed managers, Wrexham stayed consistent with Parkinson who doesn’t always get the credit he deserves. “I feel the entire process has distracted from what a good job Phil Parkinson has done,” says Fay. Chris Davies has similarly given his team an identifiable playing style. Under Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou’s former assistant, Blues have thrived as an aggressive possession-oriented side capable of magic in the attacking third. Wayne Rooney’s appointment last season was a misstep, but Birmingham quickly corrected that mistake. Read more5) Keep evolvingSeason by season Wrexham have shown a willingness to change Mullin and Palmer were the stars of the seasons in the National League and League Two the pair have been part of the attacking rotation along with Steven Fletcher and Jay Rodriguez two forwards with genuine pedigree at a high level Okonkwo came in from Arsenal to replace Mark Howard as Wrexham’s No 1 Forward Sam Smith arrived from Reading for a club-record fee Parkinson also changed formation midway through the campaign moving away from the dual striker system that had worked so well for him until that point it was making us … I won’t say predictable particularly in possession,” said Parkinson A home defeat to Stevenage in late January prompted a rethink and was the catalyst for a run that saw Wrexham lose just two out of 17 games to clinch promotion Birmingham’s evolution has been far less gradual with the signing of 17 new players last summer giving Davies the talent he needed to point the club in the right direction Jay Stansfield was the most expensive addition the 22-year-old justified such an eye-watering fee by netting 19 goals in 34 league appearances a New York investment fund valued at close to $10bn “With these owners I think the Premier League is just their first target,” says Goulding Wrexham, on the other hand, might be more like a dog catching a car now that they are up to the Championship. This could be why New York’s Allyn family, whose wealth dwarfs that of Reynolds and McElhenney Reynolds only has so much Mint Mobile cash to plough in Published: Invalid Date ACTOR Ryan Reynolds is splashing out £500,000 to send his Wrexham squad on a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate promotion — for the third year in a row He and fellow owner Rob McElhenney promised to reward the players and staff if they made it to the Championship It will be his first trip to Sin City in Nevada but the third for some of the club — with Ryan and Rob picking up the tab the Welsh side will be in the second tier of English football Manager Phil Parkinson, who is not going, said: “They deserve it. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club Wrexham executive director Kaleen Allyn knows that her family’s minority shareholding in the upwardly mobile Welsh club represents a mere fraction of their overall portfolio of investments with Allyn’s 90-year-old grandfather having become so enamoured with Phil Parkinson after meeting Wrexham’s promotion-winning manager on a recent visit that he now has a prized photo of the pair on the wall at home in New York “We flew Grandpa Bill over because I wanted to kind of show him what it is all about,” says Allyn, whose family were brought on board by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney last autumn after previously looking at possibly investing in a host of Premier League clubs he was almost kicking and screaming because he did not want to leave. He said: ‘The community of Wrexham is the closest thing I’ve seen to what we grew up with and what we lost in upstate New York’ The Allyns have certainly thrown themselves into Wrexham life despite being based a little over 3,300 miles away in Skaneateles a town in upstate New York where the family’s medical device company was based for more than 100 years before being sold for $2billion (£1.3bn) in 2015 who oversees the family’s private investment portfolio after previously working on Wall Street as well as the Wrexham Foundation and the Wrexham Academy Her dad Eric, a former chairman of the Welch Allyn board, is, if anything, even more of a familiar face in Wrexham. He’s become a regular in The Turf when over from the States, joining the pub’s bus trip to Blackpool for the Easter Monday victory that helped propel Parkinson’s side towards a third straight promotion. He’s become such an accepted member of the group that when playing pool in a seaside pub before the Blackpool match Speaking in her first major interview since joining Wrexham’s executive board in late January Kaleen adds: “This is the most fun job I’ve ever had in terms of the portfolio I manage for my family this investment is probably three to four per cent of that entire portfolio because we are partners in this and rolling up our sleeves to do the work I’d say it consumes at least 70 per cent of my time It’s something we can work really hard on to help and not just passively sit there we have great people like Rob and Ryan running it we want to know how we can help and how we can learn.” The Allyn family’s path towards celebrating Wrexham’s third consecutive promotion on the pitch last weekend with Reynolds and McElhenney started with what seemed to be something of a leftfield recommendation Having worked for Rockefeller Capital Management in their alternative investment and wealth management divisions for five years overseeing the family’s private investment portfolio “I got a call from someone I’d worked with a long “They knew our family story for the last 20 years and said: ‘Have you ever thought about investing in football?’ Even though my family love the Buffalo Bills.  We looked at some Premier League-level teams but you become a fraction-of-a-fraction owner “I explained this wasn’t really compelling to us I don’t know if I can look my family in the face and say: ‘Hey this is going to be a great investment and be safe’ “He just said: ‘I can’t give you their names at the moment but you do need to speak to these people I have in mind please trust me’ — and that’s how I got introduced to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.” Selling Welch Allyn in 2015 hadn’t been an easy decision for the family did at least open another in the form of potential investment deals such as the one outlined initially by representatives of Maximum Effort and More Better Reynolds and McElhenney’s respective companies At this stage, Allyn had not watched the documentary charting the duo’s ownership of Wrexham but she soon put that right by binge-watching the entire show and was immediately struck by the community aspect A meeting was quickly arranged with the two co-owners “They started laying out their vision for Wrexham,” recalls Allyn and trying to find a way to make sure the community isn’t left behind “It was the most incredible first meeting I’ve had with partners Rob and Ryan also said: ‘Before we start talking about actually doing this “What they didn’t know is my father (Eric) had already gone over incognito “I’m trying to wrap my head around Wrexham and how we’re going to quantify the opportunity; thinking about the investment thesis But the thing I just couldn’t prepare for was the added dimension of the fanbase there’s how the Wrexham people want to tell you their story if you’re curious but the fanbase was just electric and powerful There were fans who’d been with the club for decades “You start talking to them and realise what the club means to the community It changed everything to be there and seeing this for myself. I ended up texting Rob and Ryan with my dad and saying: ‘Yes I knew this was an amazing opportunity that we could not pass up.” No details have been released as to the size of the Allyn’s minority shareholding in Wrexham nor the amount they paid but by setting up Red Dragon Ventures LLC — a joint venture between Reynolds that also now owns a stake in Wrexham Lager — to facilitate their investment the New York-based family came on board at an opportune time Wrexham were chasing a third after an encouraging start to life back in League One a number of infrastructure projects also needed to be addressed including the much-delayed new Kop stand and a new training ground Populous, the renowned firm of architects responsible for Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, being brought on board by chief executive Michael Williamson helped sort the design of not only the planned 5,500 capacity stand but also a master plan for the entire stadium But the funding for a development that is receiving £17million of public money as part of a project to improve the main route into Wrexham still needed sourcing we’re going to form a finance committee to go and pursue this’,” says Allyn Aidan Miller — who just did the Everton stadium (as finance director) and ran the process there — plus people from Maximum Effort and More Better are all coming together to say A boost to the quest for financing came via the £15.02 million owed to Reynolds and McElhenney by the club in loans being repaid during the current financial year effectively creating a ‘clean balance sheet’ to show to prospective lenders means Wrexham can borrow funds for the Kop and other projects at a lower rate than would have been the case had those previous liabilities to the owners remained A lot of times I hear big banks saying: ‘We’re not going to finance anything that’s not Premier League level’ but we’ve been going into these meetings with the banks and started to tell them the Wrexham story and they have the same realisation as I had about the opportunity “It’s a small town that gets brutally cold in the winter,” says Kaleen “We live right on this finger lake that would freeze over My great-grandfather would go out and play pond hockey My grandfather will be on skates along with my six-year-old cousin It’s amazing to watch everyone come out onto the rink which is why the Allyn Family Foundation was set up in 1954 to help address poverty locally and improve lives Millions of dollars have since been distributed via grants to a variety of initiatives while the foundation was also the driving force behind the $26.5million Salt City Market project in Syracuse which since opening in January 2021 has not only provided both subsidised housing and a food hall for local businesses but also revived a rundown part of the city the Allyns have a similar desire to help the community in North Wales “One of the things I love with the Wrexham Foundation is the philanthropic side as in: how can the club give back to the community?” says Kaleen whose mother Meg O’Connell is an executive director of the family Foundation “That’s become a totally recharged setup under (head of community) Jamie Edwards our players will go into the hospitals and meet with the kids which is very important… but we can do so much more as well’ it’s about empowering the people in the community They’re so proud and there are ways to help them.” This desire to make a lasting impact explains the family coming on board at North Wales’ only EFL club Thanks to the team’s jet-heeled charge through the leagues there’s no doubt the club’s off-field operation is having to play catch-up This full-on existence is exactly what Allyn envisaged when her family first got involved at the SToK Cae Ras after passing up earlier opportunities to take a minority stake further up the football ladder “Even when we were looking at other clubs,” she adds like: ‘We want to be true partners with whoever we work with’ Liverpool is an amazing club and when we were looking at that like: ‘This could be a great opportunity’ but this isn’t what we want We want to be true partners and get our hands dirty; be part of the story of what’s happening “Everyone is so excited to move fast with these back-to-back-to-back promotions but do it in a way that you’re not just trying to get this to the highest point and then watch it fall back down It’s been great that Phil has been able to create a team that’s gone back-to-back-to-back and the management’s job now is to make sure this is sustainable.” One bonus of the family’s determination to be in this for the long haul alongside Reynolds and McElhenney is plenty more visits to Wrexham and The Turf “it was like Wrexham in that everyone knew each other My dad and grandfather knew everyone at the business whether that was on the manufacturing floor or up in marketing.   after bringing my dad and Grandpa Bill to The Turf They started learning about every single person in there remembering them all every time he goes in and my Grandpa keeps FaceTiming him and asking how everyone is It is the sweetest thing in the world.”  with Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds; Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)