Revealed: Scale of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's funding into Wrexham laid bare by the club's astronomical wage bill... after the Hollywood owners admitted they were 'f****d without National League promotion

Wrexham paid out £6.9million in wages during their promotional season from the National League as the level of funding from the club’s Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney was revealed in their latest accounts.

The Welsh side were promoted as champions from the National League last season with a record 111 points, after edging Notts County in a head-to-head battle for the one automatic spot.

Reynolds and McElhenney admitted last year they would have been ‘f*****’ if the club had failed to have achieved promotion to League Two.

McElhenney said on the series Welcome To Wrexham: 'From a financial perspective, if we do not get promoted this year, we are f*****', to which Reynolds replied, 'Yep, f***'.'

'We're heavily invested in building this club, the stadium itself, and if we don't get promoted this year, the club is completely, totally and wholly unsustainable.

'So its really ratcheted up the pressure, not just for us but for the players on the field, the people in the community. This year we have to get promoted.'

The co-owners desperation to secure promotion has been outlined in the club’s financial accounts for the year ending on June 30, 2023.

Wrexham made an overall loss of £5.1million during the National League season, representing a record in the division.

The figure surpassed the previous record loss of Stockport County of £4.8m in their promotion season in 2022, as well as representing a significant increase on the £2.9m loss Wrexham had made the same campaign.

A major increase in the club’s wage bill was a contributing factor with Wrexham paying out £6.9m for the financial year, representing £132,600-a-week.

The wage bill increased by nearly £2.9million from the previous season, where the club finished as runners-up to Stockport County and were beaten in the play-offs.

Turnover and revenue has increased dramatically since  Always Sunny In Philadelphia creator McElhenney and Deadpool actor Reynolds bought the club for £2million in February 2021.

Turnover increased from £5.972million to £10.478million in the year ending June 30 2023.

The club’s accounts outlined how Wrexham’s overseas fanbase has contributed to the increase in turnover.

Wrexham highlighted a ‘staggering’ increase in its Rest of the World turnover to £2.582m from £657,000 in the 2022 accounts, with UK turnover rising to £7.8million from £5.3million.

Club director Humphrey Ker wrote in the accounts that the club ‘await with interest to see how this ratio changes going forward.’

Wrexham’s retail operation enjoyed an increase from £3.430m from £1.304m in 2022, while sponsorship rose to £1.883m from £1.053m.

The club’s run to the FA Cup fourth round helped football revenue grow to £1.314m from £0.531m.

The League Two side said that their year-on-year income increases show the potential of the club, stating that this will ‘significantly increase again following promotion and the continued popularity of Welcome to Wrexham’

Wrexham noted that the club needed to be conscious of ensuring that when the Disney+ series comes to an end it can ‘manage the change effectively and still deliver our objectives based on the legacy that has been created.’

A third season of the show is planned for next month.

'The amount owed to The RR McReynolds Company, LLC (owned by the two actors) at the year-end was £8.977million (2022: £3.714million),' a statement from Wrexham said.

'The financial losses suffered by the club since the takeover shouldn't be repeated, with income generated by the club now sufficient to meet the operational costs of the club going forward.

'These losses were deemed necessary to allow the club to maximise its full potential in the shortest time practically possible.

'The club is under no immediate pressure to repay these loans at the expense of the progress we seek to achieve and further financial support will be provided/secured to support the capital expenditure projects the club is currently planning, which includes increasing the capacity of The Racecourse Ground and the development of a training facility for all the club's teams.'

Wrexham are in contention to secure a second successive promotion with the club in the automatic promotion places in League Two with seven matches remaining this season.

The Red Dragons would be required to pay £207,500 to other clubs for the transfer of players should the club achieve promotion this season.

In addition, Wrexham could pay out £509,710 as part of player contracts and bonuses should they be seal a spot in League One.

Wrexham noted that further bonuses may be payable if they club is promotion to the Championship in the future.