Wrexham star reveals Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds’ special offer | Football

Wrexham AFC star Mark Howard has lauded Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds for making a special offer to the players.

The Welsh side have been widely followed since the Hollywood stars took control of the club and launched their successful documentary Welcome to Wrexham.

McElhenney and Reynolds arrived in 2021 and have helped Wrexham achieve back-to-back promotions for the first time in their 159-year history.

Wrexham won the National League title last season – returning to the Football League after a 15-year absence – and were promoted from League Two this term.

Howard, in a fresh wide-ranging interview, has heaped praise on McElhenney and Reynolds and has been quizzed about the team’s chances of reaching the Premier League under the American duo with Wrexham now needing just two promotions.

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McElhenney and Reynolds’ special offer

Howard has hailed McElhenney and Reynolds after they specially offered to help out the club’s players with their other business ventures.

‘They have shown nothing but respect,’ Howard told OLBG. ‘They are humble people. They have taken the pressure off the players with the way they have conducted themselves. They are a pleasure to work with and so are the staff they have brought in. 

‘They are people of their word. They have helped me massively. I’ve got my own podcast, Yours Mine Away, and Ryan kept to his promise that he would come on. That has helped me massively to grow. They are the same with all the players, whether they have a clothing brand or other businesses. 

‘I remember we actually had a meeting with Rob and he said anything that you have got going on, come and speak to us. We are good business people and know how to market themselves really well.

‘They have always been fully open to what we want to do in the background. They help a lot behind the scenes that people just wouldn’t realise. If you need a call or a text, they will answer. They just get it. They know how to get the best out of people by being good people themselves.’

Rumours of another trip to Las Vegas

McElhenney and Reynolds gave Wrexham stars an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas after their promotion to League Two – and they could now be heading back after going up for the second season in a row.

‘There have been rumours of us going back to Vegas again,’ Howard added. ‘The owners put on an unbelievable experience last year. There will be a lot of players from higher divisions looking at Wrexham and thinking how appealing it is. The way they look after us is fantastic. 

‘The club is building and they want success. We can tell with the way the club is progressing and building that we have to do the best we can to deliver. Other players from other teams will be looking at us and thinking we are a good club to play for one day.’

Visits from Will Ferrell and Hugh Jackman

McElhenney and Reynolds are not the only A-listers to have popped up at the Racecourse Ground.

‘There’s been a few famous faces I’ve met,’ Howard said. ‘Actors Charlie Day and Will Ferrell have come in. 

‘To meet Will was amazing. I remember myself and teammate Elliott Lee were in the physio room having some treatment and Will came in and we were soon cracking up. He’s so funny.

‘Hugh Jackman also came in. We are quite used to it now with some A-list movie stars being at the game. At our away games we get rival fans or players asking if the owners are coming. They are a big pull for everyone.’

‘Rivals want to ruin Welcome to Wrexham’

Welcome to Wrexham is a documentary that follows the club on and off the pitch as they look to make the long journey up to the Premier League – with the series receiving critical acclaim.

‘There is a lot from opposition players, staff and fans,’ Howard added. ‘We hear it and see it. But we like it. We know it’s already in their heads, we know we have a slight edge on them as we have rattled them before the game starts. 

‘The comments are going on weekly. We find it a bit funny that we have got to people. It’s a motivational tool that people try to throw in our faces but we are accustomed to it.

‘For this level it’s been a bit of a media circus but it’s something as players, and I will include the staff in that, that we are all used to. We have all embraced it. A lot of players use that against us.

‘For the documentary-style show, they all want to be the villain who ruins the episode of Welcome to Wrexham. A lot of the away teams want to ruin the party.’

Wrexham coy over aiming for Premier League

Wrexham need two promotions to reach the billionaires’ playground of the Premier League but Howard gave a coy response over the team’s ambitions.

‘Momentum is huge in football,’ he said. ‘Our target will be to continue to build. We won’t be making big predictions as that is not us. League One is a lot tougher and a bigger ask as there are a lot of big clubs with history. 

‘The levels get harder but we will try and continue to push on. We have been accustomed to winning. You never know what will happen. The owners have shown they will give the backing so it’s exciting times and who knows where it will take us.’

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