Unofficial Partner Podcast

Unofficial Partner Podcast


E147: Inside the Wrexham takeover

March 09, 2021

Perhaps the biggest, most interesting, surprising sports business story of the last year has been the takeover of Wrexham football club by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.


Like you, I saw the announcement and the social media campaign and wondered, why? What’s their plan, are they serious about investing in the third oldest professional football club which now resides in the lower reaches of the English Football pyramid, or is just about making a behind the scenes documentary, a content play or a way of promoting gin?


So, to answer these questions we’ve got hold of the two people entrusted to carry out the plan on behalf of the two superstar owners.


Humphrey Ker is a friend and colleague of Rob McElhenney, and a writer on the Apple TV show Mythic Quest. He’s the one who put the idea in McElhenney’s head in the first place and is now the club’s Executive Director.


With him is Shaun Harvey, who many of you know will know as the former CEO of the EFL and before that Chief executive of Leeds United and Bradford City football clubs. Harvey has been working as a consultant for Wrob and Wryan, via his connection to Inner Circle Sports, the boutique investment bank focused on the sports industry.


So, if anyone knows what’s going on, it’s these two. And over the course of an entertaining fifty minutes or so, all your questions will be answered, and more besides.


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