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GONE VIRAL: Twitter thread about Ryan Reynolds’ ‘idiotic’ $2M gamble on Wrexham

A Twitter thread about Ryan Reynolds’ ‘idiotic’ $2M gamble on Wrexham has gone viral this week following their promotion.

Ryan Reynolds’ investment into Wrexham AFC, who were struggling in the National League, was initially seen as a risky move.

Three seasons later, the club reportedly achieved a $100 million valuation and also gone on to achieve three promotions in a row.

It’s gone to get 8 million views and 40,000 likes in less than 24 hours. Take a look at what Michael Jeffcoat had to say…

Michael Jeffcoat put out a series of tweets, which began: “Ryan Reynolds’ “idiotic” $2M gamble on Wrexham AFC shocked the football world.

“A team forgotten for years in England’s lowest divisions. 3 seasons later: $100,000,000 valuation and 3 historic promotions. It exposed the brutal truth elite clubs don’t want you to know:

“When Reynolds and McElhenney bought Wrexham in 2021, experts called them crazy. $2,500,000 for a fifth-tier club outside the Football League for 15 years? A team with a crumbling stadium and dwindling fans? This seemed insane… yet it revealed business genius:

“Before Hollywood arrived, Wrexham was lost in time. Relegated in 2008, they spent 15 years in the football wilderness. Fan-owned but underfunded. Local businesses struggled while young fans supported bigger TV clubs instead of their hometown team.

“The transformation since 2021? Miraculous. Wrexham’s value skyrocketed from $2.5M to $100M – a 4,000% increase unheard of for any football club. But the real masterstrokes happened behind the scenes:

“First, the “Welcome to Wrexham” docuseries. It turned unknown players into global celebrities overnight. Millions gained emotional stakes in a club they’d never heard of. This created a marketing engine traditional clubs can’t match:

“Wrexham’s merchandise now sells worldwide, especially in America. Every home game sells out with “football tourists” traveling thousands of miles. Commercial deals provide over half their revenue – outpacing some Championship clubs. But their real innovation? Fan engagement:

“Unlike distant billionaire owners, Reynolds and McElhenney:
• Interact with fans directly
• Share ownership’s emotional rollercoaster
• Involve supporters in decisions
• Reinvest locally
The contrast with elite clubs is stark…

“Premier League teams treat fans as customers; Wrexham treats them as family. Big clubs protect corporate interests; Wrexham embraces transparency. Giants extract community wealth; Wrexham reinvests locally. The on-field results? Just as remarkable:

“In three seasons, Wrexham secured three straight promotions – from National League to League One. They’ve broken attendance, revenue, and merchandise records. They’ve created hundreds of jobs across North Wales. The success rippled throughout the region:

“Hotels report matchday sellouts. Restaurants see revenue triple on game days. Tourism to North Wales has surged with visitors coming specifically for the “Wrexham phenomenon.” But what this exposes about elite football is what owners fear most:

“The biggest clubs forgot what made football special – community. They chase TV deals and billionaires while abandoning local roots. They price out loyal fans and replace authenticity with corporate PR. This reveals the real opportunity:

“Wrexham proves you can win differently:
• Put community first
• Embrace transparency
• Treat fans as partners
• Tell authentic stories
The Reynolds/McElhenney model isn’t just working – it’s thriving.

“This terrifies the football establishment: If more clubs follow Wrexham’s blueprint, the monopoly held by elite giants could crumble. When fans see they can have success AND authenticity, why support corporations masquerading as football clubs?

“Wrexham’s story teaches something profound: Community isn’t a nice-to-have – it’s the foundation of success. When people feel connected to something bigger than themselves, they’ll support it through anything. This principle extends beyond football:

“Other clubs now follow Wrexham’s community-first approach:
• FC United of Manchester rejected corporate ownership
• AFC Wimbledon rose from fan ownership
• Union Berlin prioritizes members over commercial interests
The movement grows daily.

“The most powerful lesson from Wrexham? You don’t need billions to create change. You need authentic connection, transparency, and putting people before profits. In a world of corporate giants, this remains the ultimate competitive advantage.

Fans reacted to the the Twitter thread about Ryan Reynolds’ ‘idiotic’ $2M gamble on Wrexham…

@rosemontjd: Wimbledon and Wrexham couldn’t be more different in terms of club and constitution. Do better.

@HuddoHudson: These clubs have been doing this since before the actors had even heard of Wrexham! Specifically FCUM and Wimbledon were created as fan-owned clubs. Wrexham haven’t created any new model! Nor are they standard bearers. Abd you really need to learn about all German club models.

@BristolCityFM: This tweet is why nobody respects Americans when it comes to football. You just can’t help yourselves with the mistruths and hyperbole. Wrexham isn’t a fairytale. They’re still corporately owned and funded. Their success is still bought.

@fox1927: Hang on. You’re claiming that AFC Wimbledon have followed Wrexham’s approach? Seriously?

@twit_uk: Rubbish. They don’t follow Wrexhams approach they predated it

@CJW93: AFC Wimbledon rose up the leagues long before Rob or Ryan had even heard of Wrexham

@iamlukedavidson: I don’t care what any salty fans have to say, but it is a fairytale. If this happened to any club outside of the Premier League / Championship you’d be absolutely loving life.

@kjs2694: Biggest load of American journalistic nonsense I’ve read. Do some research @MichaelJeffcoat @FCUnitedMcr didn’t ‘copy @Wrexham_AFC ’s model’ they’ve been fan owned and rejected corporate ownership since when they were established in 2005, it’s the whole reason they started it up 🤦🏻‍♂️

@CurnainC: When I first watched the @WeareWrexham series, I often thought this would be a task for any club to prove that the investment would work. I’m glad to see something clicked and the passion created has helped build an empire within Wrexham. It should be an interesting championship

@AntonyCarlHiggs: Great thread. 👏 Although I don’t think they’d have bought #WrexhamAFC without the TV deal, the premise is still correct: “When fans see they can have success AND authenticity, why support corporations masquerading as football clubs?” They’ve struck the balance admirably.

@CoachK_HCS: FC United of Manchester and AFC Wimbledon have been fan owned since long before Rob and Ryan took over Wrexham. And fan-ownership is a much different model. While Wrexham is an awesome story and example of local football benefitting a community, it is far from original.

@egansmind: So many flaws in this debate. Wrexham are not worth £100m and they will find it difficult at Championship level. Football clubs do not make money, the higher you go the more debt you accrue trying to keep up with everyone as players demands increase. Saying that great story

HAVE YOUR SAY –

What do you make of this thread? What do you agree and disagree with? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or tweet us @fan_banter

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