Wrexham owner heartbroken after manager didn't tell him his favourite player was leaving
One of Wrexham's Hollywood co-owners has opened up on how he was devastated to learn of the departure of a key player via social media, reflecting on the emotional impact
Rob McElhenney, who co-owns Wrexham with Ryan Reynolds, has revealed his shock over a player's departure
(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images )
Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has revealed how he was left heartbroken after learning about the departure of one of his favourite players via social media.
The Red Dragons have said goodbye to several stars since securing a third consecutive promotion to the Championship in April, including stalwart goalkeeper Mark Howard and veteran striker Steven Fletcher. Meanwhile, it was announced last month that Wrexham talisman Paul Mullin would be joining Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan after falling out of favour under manager Phil Parkinson last season.
McElhenney, who recently filed to legally change his name to Rob Mac, has now opened up on the emotional impact of saying goodbye to players who have been a key part of the club's success. The It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor and co-creator said he only discovered one team member was leaving this summer after reading about it on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, McElhenney added that he was not informed of the impending exit by Parkinson beforehand but defended the approach taken by the former Bolton and Sunderland boss.
The 48-year-old said: "I found out one of my favourite players was released from the team this year. I found out via Twitter and I was just as shocked as he was. It was his statement, and the manager hadn't told us yet.
"He talked to the player, which is what he should have done, the player talked to his teammates and then put out a statement, which is his right to do. My heart was broken and I did not see it coming.
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Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has opened up about the challenges of running a football club
(Image: Chris Jackson/PA Wire )
"The players will often play themselves out of a job. This happened with a few of our players where they gave their hearts, their souls and their effort and helped us get promoted.
"For that, us, the club and the town are eternally grateful. But what winds up happening is, you go up a league, and maybe they're 36 or 37 years old, and you need somebody who's 21 or 22. They accept that, but it still doesn't make it easy and it's not fun."
Wrexham were playing in the National League when McElhenney and Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds first bought the club in February 2021. The North Wales outfit has since enjoyed three promotions in a row, with the two actors helping to lift the team into the second tier.
During the interview, McElhenney lifted the lid on how he approached Reynolds about joining his bid to buy a football club. He also discussed the warning he received from his wife, Kaitlin Olson, before contacting the Canadian megastar.
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"I went back recently and I found the original email that I sent to him where I laid out the idea and what I wanted to do," said McElhenney. "Originally, I was going to do it on my own and ask Ryan if he wanted to be a sponsor with Aviation Gin as the front of kit sponsor.
"The more I thought about it, the more I realised that he's such an entrepreneur. He's globally famous, whatever he touches seems to turn to gold and if I could potentially include him as a partner, that could take this thing into the stratosphere.
"I remember asking my wife about it, and I said, 'Caitlin, what do you think about me asking Ryan to be a full partner on this?' She said, 'I don't know. I guess it depends on whether your ego can take sharing the screen with Ryan.'"
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Highlighting the key to their success as owners, he added: "We were honest from the very beginning, and we went in with our hearts on our sleeves and said, 'We don't know anything about football.' I was not even a fan of the beautiful game up until five years ago, and now I'm horrifically addicted."
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