Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have been a smash hit at Wrexham, with the duo taking the club from non-league to the brink of promotion in just two full seasons. Not only that, but they have secured £25 million in government funding for their stadium, which should be capable of hosting the Wales team in the north of the country.
The actors have invested heavily in the club, both financially and through their hit docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, which has introduced hordes of Americans to non-league football. They have also lured retired big hitters like ex-England keeper Ben Foster to the club and watched their side perform above themselves in crunch matches in recent weeks.
The duo have proved themselves to be savvy businessmen, sticking to their areas of expertise – media, PR and charm – and exposing a valuable business commodity: humility. They have wooed the locals and Wrexham are winning, showing that it pays to stay in your lane.
In comparison, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has not had the same success. His prediction that his side would beat Champions League holders Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final had the endearing optimism of a 13-year-old Spurs fan, but he has since learned that his job running a private investment firm in the States does not equip him with perfectly transferrable Premier League-winning skills. He has done the investing, working with a consortium to buy the club, and then outspending all other top division clubs five-fold in the January transfer window. He has also made appearances in the dressing room, but it is clear that delineation of responsibilities is important in any business.
Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds have shown that it pays to stay in your lane and focus on your areas of expertise. They have delivered on their promise to be part of the community, and Wrexham are reaping the rewards.