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Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ryan Reynolds tipped to sign Premier League star who has contract on the table
Wrexham are looking to spend big this summer as they prepare for life in the Championship and have been tipped to sign a Premier League club captain by a former Man United star Wrexham have been backed to land a major signing thanks to their Hollywood pulling power. The Red Dragons, owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are expected to splash the cash this summer after celebrating promotion from League One in April. The Welsh side have already strengthened ready for life in the Championship with the additions of Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie and Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward. More new faces are anticipated in the coming weeks, with Fulham captain Tom Cairney believed to be high on manager Phil Parkinson 's wish list. It's been reported that Wrexham have already made a move for the 34-year-old midfielder, whose contract at Craven Cottage ended in June. Negotiations for a one-year extension between Cairney and Fulham are said to have taken place, but Wrexham are said to be offering a substantial salary package and more opportunities for regular game time. Cairney, who has represented Scotland twice, featured in 23 Premier League matches for Fulham last season. Whether he will extend his tenure with the club into an eleventh season remains uncertain. However, former Fulham and Manchester United forward Louis Saha thinks Wrexham could tempt him away. The Frenchman suggested that the club's elevated profile could influence Cairney's decision. "Players will always consider what benefits their career," Saha told Coin Poker. "For Tom Cairney, he needs guarantees that he'll have playing time, that he's part of a plan. He'll want to know the club are growing. "For most players, they need to know where the club is headed and what they'll be offered. Of course, there's another aspect and you need to be convinced that the money is right, and that's important. "There's another aspect too, of visibility. Wrexham are not a traditionally big club but they're doing amazing things off the pitch, and the two owners are very commercially astute." He added: "It's a different kind of club, it's a new way of doing things, and they're doing them well." Cairney highlighted his desire to stay at Fulham after scoring a goal in the club's win over Brentford in May. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, he said: "I've been through a lot here, through a lot with the fans. It was an incredible moment when I scored. It's a special bond. Addressing his future, Cairney added: "Nothing is sorted yet. Next week is my final game for Fulham. Hopefully it's not. In football, sometimes things go to the last minute and hopefully it's not my final time at Craven Cottage next weekend." Last month, renewed hopes emerged when Fulham announced that Cairney had been offered a new deal. It's unclear whether Wrexham can sway his decision, but co-owner Reynolds recently committed to backing his manager strongly in the transfer market this summer. Speaking on the RobRyanRed fan podcast, the 'Deadpool' actor said: "We're coming to win. I can't give you a dollar figure, but I can tell you that we are going to be as aggressive as we can possibly be while being mindful of sustainability. We have a stadium to revamp, but will still maintain its character and culture." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
Wales Online
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Wrexham transfer target gets his wish after Ryan Reynolds makes 'aggressive' claim
Wrexham transfer target gets his wish after Ryan Reynolds makes 'aggressive' claim Wrexham, who are owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have received an update in their bid to sign a Premier League star following their recent promotion Wrexham's co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have received an update on their bid to sign Tom Cairney (Image: Getty Images ) Wrexham's aim of signing Fulham skipper Tom Cairney have hit a snag, despite the North Wales club's strong interest in bringing the player to the Racecourse Ground. The Red Dragons, under the ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have been linked with Cairney over the last month. Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson is anticipated to have significant financial support in the summer transfer window to strengthen his team after their promotion from League One. It was reported in May that Wrexham had tabled an attractive financial offer to Cairney as a top transfer target. However, Fulham have thrown a spanner in the works by offering the 34-year-old midfielder a new deal to remain at Craven Cottage. Cairney, who has two Scotland caps to his name, featured in 25 Premier League matches this past season and is currently considering his future. After netting a goal in Fulham's win over Brentford last month, Cairney shared his eagerness to stay at the club with BBC Match of the Day. Speaking about his contract situation, he said: "Nothing is sorted yet. Next week is my final game for Fulham. Hopefully it's not. In football, sometimes things go to the last minute and hopefully it's not my final time at Craven Cottage next weekend." Fulham boss Marco Silva also revealed his desire to retain a key player. "I think he is going to be with us and I hope it is the ambition to have him with us next season," he said. "He knows what I think about it. He's a very good footballer and I know how we can use him." Article continues below Wrexham have strongly been linked with a move for Fulham's Tom Cairney (Image:) Watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4 on Disney+ This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £4.99 Disney+ Get Disney+ here Product Description Welcome to Wrexham is back on Disney+ for a fourth season. Fans can watch the series with a £4.99 monthly plan, or get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront. The offer of a new contract strikes a blow to Wrexham's aspirations of landing the player, despite Hollywood actor Reynolds recently revealing their bold transfer market ambitions on the RobRyanRed podcast. He said: "We're coming to win. I can't give you a dollar figure, but I can tell you that we are going to be as aggressive as we can possibly be while being mindful of sustainability. We have a stadium to revamp, but will still maintain its character and culture." Wrexham manager Parkinson has also signalled his intent for strengthening his squad as they aim to compete in the Championship. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year. Sign up for Wrexham is the Game here Article continues below He told The Leader: "Me and [assistant manager] Steve Parkin know the qualities we like in players and it is about identifying the positions we feel we need to strengthen, which we have done. "Then it is looking at the players available and having meetings with them, analysing what they bring and trying to bring the lads in which we feel can fit into the group we have already got because we have got a really good side. "We want to add to that. It is about improving the quality level with the right people. We are a club which has got a winning mentality, and we want to keep that."
Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ryan Reynolds made 'aggressive' claim as Wrexham dealt summer transfer blow
Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been dealt a blow in their bid to sign a Premier League star despite promising to be aggressive in the transfer market Wrexham have been dealt a major blow in their bid to lure Fulham captain Tom Cairney to the Racecourse Ground. The Red Dragons, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have been strongly linked with a move for the midfielder over the last month. Manager Phil Parkinson is expected to receive substantial backing during the summer transfer window as he seeks to bolster his squad following Wrexham 's promotion from League One. Reports emerged in April that the club had offered a significant financial package to Cairney after making him one of their key targets. However, Fulham have confirmed that the 34-year-old has now been offered a new contract to extend his stay at Craven Cottage. Cairney, who has earned two caps for Scotland, made 25 Premier League appearances during the season just ended and is understood to be weighing up his options. He recently expressed his preference to stay with Fulham after scoring in their victory over Brentford in May. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the game, Cairney said: "I've been through a lot here, through a lot with the fans. It was an incredible moment when I scored. It's a special bond." Discussing his contract situation, he added: "Nothing is sorted yet. Next week is my final game for Fulham. Hopefully it's not. In football, sometimes things go to the last minute and hopefully it's not my final time at Craven Cottage next weekend." Fulham boss Marco Silva said he was also keen to keep hold of him. "I think he is going to be with us and I hope it is the ambition to have him with us next season," he said. "He knows what I think about it. He's a very good footballer and I know how we can use him." The blow to Wrexham's hopes of signing Cairney comes despite Deadpool star Reynolds pledging that the club will be bold in the transfer market this summer. Speaking on the RobRyanRed fan podcast, Reynolds said: "We're coming to win. I can't give you a dollar figure, but I can tell you that we are going to be as aggressive as we can possibly be while being mindful of sustainability. We have a stadium to revamp, but will still maintain its character and culture." Meanwhile, Wrexham manager Parkinson already knows which positions he wants to fill as he prepares for life in the Championship next term. "Me and [assistant manager] Steve Parkin know the qualities we like in players and it is about identifying the positions we feel we need to strengthen, which we have done," he told The Leader newspaper this week. "Then it is looking at the players available and having meetings with them, analysing what they bring and trying to bring the lads in which we feel can fit into the group we have already got because we have got a really good side. "We want to add to that. It is about improving the quality level with the right people. We are a club which has got a winning mentality, and we want to keep that." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
The Herald Scotland
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Commentator Ian Crocker on 30 years as voice of Scottish football
For Ian Crocker season 2024/25 will end the same way as so many have in recent years. Stuck behind a caravan on a single carriageway of the A9 on the road north to Dingwall for a Premiership play-off. The first-ever play-off between Aberdeen and Dunfermline marked his first exposure to Scottish football. That was 30 years ago this week and Sky Sports' lead commentator marked the occasion by prepping for the first leg draw between Livingston and Ross County. The voice of Scottish football, that's his life now. 'I started doing the prep for the latest play-off last week and it said that the first one was 30 years ago,' he tells Herald Sport. 'I wondered what date that was and realised it was Aberdeen v Dunfermline, my first game in Scotland. 'Colin Davidson was at Sky then and I started doing bits and bobs for them. Grampian TV were actually covering that game live and didn't have a commentator, so Colin put me forward for it. 'That was the start of something. I never thought I'd still be talking nonsense about Scottish football three decades later.' Born in Dorset, Crocker's slow creep north began as a tannoy announced with West Ham United, the team he supports. Working in an office job for the BBC his broadcasting breakthrough came with Capital Radio in London. Working with Jonathan Pierce and Steve Wilson - now BBC Match of the Day commentators – he moved to Birmingham to cover the Midlands beat when big Ron Atkinson, Barry Fry and the late Graham Taylor were in their managerial pomp. His final, life-changing move took him to Scotland with Sky Sports and Setanta. 'I always worked for Scottish bosses through the years. A guy called Andy Melvin, who used to be at STV years ago, was deputy director of Sky Sports and he asked if I would fancy doing the SPL as it was then? 'I thought, 'why not' and by 1998 I had worked my way up the country from Dorset, where I was born, to London, to Birmingham to Glasgow. It's been fantastic and I do love it. 'We all know what it's about. The passion of the players and the fans. 'I get a bit of stick on the socials, but when I actually meet people out and about people are pretty kind in terms of remembering lines I used, which is quite humbling. 'But that's your job. If there is going to be something major happening in football you want to come up with a line that kind of covers it. And hopefully I have managed to do that a few days over the years.' Big games tee up big memories. His first calling card in Scottish football came when Martin O'Neill's first Old Firm game as Celtic manager ended in a 6-2 thrashing of Rangers, Henrik Larsson chipping a sublime effort over Stefan Klos for the goal of the game. 'I said, 'that is sensational', which it was. To this day people still come up to me and shout that at me. 'I was actually walking through Glasgow Central one day when this guy came up and started shouting 'that is sensational' at me, much to the bemusement of commuters in the station at the time. 'I had a similar one when Rangers beat Celtic in the cup final in 2002 and Peter Lovenkrands scored the winner in injury time. 'Just before Neil McCann hooked the cross in I said, 'is there going to be a twist in the tale?' 'Obviously there was - which is great. But I must have said that line a hundred times when absolutely nothing happened. It was good that it came off for once…' While Weymouth and West Ham were his first – his only – footballing loves fans in Scotland find it infuriatingly difficult to set suspicion to one side. After any game involving Celtic or Rangers his inflection, enthusiasm for goals, or description of opponents is scrutinised with a forensic intensity for evidence of latent bias. After moving the family home to the banks of Loch Lomond five years ago he has learned to live with it. Read more: 'It does make me laugh when I see one tweet saying, 'ah he's a Rangers man' beside another saying, 'no, no, he's a big Celtic man. 'A lot of the time you get people saying, 'you sounded more exciting for their goal than ours.' 'It's total and utter nonsense. Sometimes you might not go full pelt on a goal because you are wondering who scored it or it's an own goal. 'It's part of the territory, it will never change and you get used to it. 'I tell people I support my hometown of Weymouth or West Ham they look puzzled and say, 'yeah but what Scottish team do you support?…' Over the three decades, colleagues became friends. He keeps in touch by text with Davie Provan, the former Celtic and Scotland winger who provided intelligent and insightful co-commentaries until he retired to Spain. Andy Walker, the former Parkhead striker, became another pal through work – the pair working together at yesterday's game between Newcastle and Everton at St James' Park. 'Me and Davie just got on from day one. I hate commentators who crush each other, which seems to be a more common theme these days. 'After Davie, Andy Walker took over and we just became good friends. 'Both of those guys are just very good at what they do. The actual analysis is harder than the commentary because I'm just shouting out names while they have to figure out what's right and what's wrong and why a goal was disallowed.' Wary of any accusations of being a little too close to former Celtic players, he quickly name checks a legendary late Rangers figure as the manager he had the privilege of befriending and plugging for teamlines on the morning of games. 'Walter Smith used to say, 'ring me at 8.30am' and he would fill me in on injuries and why they were injured etc. 'I'd probably still be on the phone to him at 9am before saying, 'right I have to go to a game now.' 'Walter was different class to deal with and Craig Brown was the same with Scotland and Preston. 'The chats with Walter were fantastic. These days it's a bit harder to get managers to give you the team and I kind of get that with the pressure they're under these days. 'But I always felt if Walter could trust me that was a decent recommendation but, lovely a guy as he was, I wouldn't have wanted to cross him. 'I bumped into him at a game at Rangers a couple of years after he retired and I saw him in the tunnel where he said to me, 'one of the worst things about not being involved in the game anymore is that I f***** well have to listen to you on the telly now….'
Wales Online
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Gary Lineker left in tears at legends' words in emotional BBC Match of the Day farewell
Gary Lineker left in tears at legends' words in emotional BBC Match of the Day farewell Gary Lineker stepped down from Match of the Day after an emotional farewell before the show, which included a video tribute from a number of high-profile figures Gary Lineker was emotional during his last appearance on Match of the Day (Image: BBC ) Gary Lineker was moved to tears as his tenure on Match of the Day concluded with a heartfelt tribute led by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards in the studio. A comprehensive video was shown, starting with his footballing days that saw him shine at Barcelona. Post-retirement, it traced his journey as a presenter, where he had the daunting task of stepping into the shoes of the legendary Des Lynam. Several colleagues - including Richards, Shearer, Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson - all lauded Lineker both as a mate and a presenter. His children also chimed in, highlighting his qualities as a father as well as a broadcaster. Notable figures like Pep Guardiola and Virgil van Dijk also offered their tributes. Richards stated: "When you think of Match of the Day, you think of Gary Lineker," while Shearer asserted: "He loves it, it means the world to him," reports the Mirror. The renowned Italian singer, Andrea Bocelli, best known for the iconic song "Time to Say Goodbye", also paid homage. Article continues below Lineker's parting words were: "Let me take this opportunity to thank all the pundits I've worked with over the years, you've made my job a lot easier." He added with a touch of humour: "Rather like my football career everyone else did all the hard work and I got all the plaudits." The broadcasting career of the former England striker with the BBC has come to an abrupt end following a massive backlash over a social media post. Earlier this week, it was announced that his final appearance on Match of the Day would be on Sunday night. This marks the end of a relationship with the corporation that spans over two decades. He's been a mainstay of the Premier League highlights programme but will pass on the baton next season. Lineker began the show with a quip "it wasn't meant to end this way", which could also be interpreted as a comment on his sudden departure from the BBC. This followed the opening titles featuring highlights from Lineker's illustrious playing career. The 64-year-old has had several brushes with controversy at the BBC, surviving calls for his dismissal after criticising the Government in a social media post. His outspoken stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict ultimately led to his downfall. He posted and then removed a message on his Instagram account from the group Palestine Lobby, accompanied by an image of a rat, which led to demands for his dismissal from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA). BBC Director-General, Tim Davie, stated: "Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season." Lineker released a statement saying: "Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio. I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for. Article continues below "However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action."
