Wrexham have announced a new minority investment from Apollo Sports Capital (ASC) as the club continues its long-term objective of reaching the Premier League. BBC report the stake is thought to be less than 10%, leaving Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as the majority shareholders and controlling owners of the oldest club in Wales. The two Hollywood stars purchased Wrexham back in 2020 and have led the once forgotten side from the National League to the Championship.

“From day one, we wanted to build a sustainable future for Wrexham Association Football Club. And to do it with a little heart and humour,” Reynolds and McElhenney said in a joint-statement.

“The dream has always been to take this club to the Premier League while staying true to the town. Growth like that takes world-class partners who share our vision and ambition, and Apollo absolutely does. We have known Al Tylis, the CEO of Apollo Sports Capital, for many years and are thrilled to now have ASC join the Wrexham family as we take the next step forward together.”

Al Tylis, Reynolds and McElhenney also hold minority stakes in Liga MX side Necaxa and Colombian side La Equidad. The broader investor group includes Eva Longoria, two-time World Series champion Justin Verlander and his wife, Kate Upton.

On the field, Wrexham are in their first Championship campaign in 43 years and currently sit 12th in the standings through 19 games. Phil Parkinson’s men are just three points off the playoff places, helped by a nine-game unbeaten streak in England’s second-tier.

“Wrexham is on an incredible journey, and we are thrilled to be a part of it and to support the club, the Wrexham community and Rob and Ryan,” said Apollo Partner and ASC Co-Portfolio Manager Lee Solomon.

“This is a multi-faceted investment where Apollo Sports Capital can provide long-term, patient capital to help Wrexham reach its goals and to contribute to the ongoing revitalization of the facilities and local economy.”

Securing a place in the Premier League seemed impossible for the Red Dragons just four years ago, and yet now, they are closer than ever before, with new financial backing to help them along the way.

Greater Manchester has publicly endorsed plans for a rebuilt Old Trafford as part of the launch of the £1 billion GM Good Growth Fund, a wider package that aims to pioneer a new model of local economic growth. The fund sits inside a long-term vision from Mayor Andy Burnham, who wants Manchester to evolve into “a second city to rival any other on the planet by 2050.”

An Oxford Economics report described Greater Manchester as a “trailblazer for local devolution,” and the Good Growth Fund is intended to channel investment directly into communities rather than relying on a trickle-down approach. Officials estimate the wider Greater Manchester economy could add £38 billion to the U.K. finances over the next decade. The first £400 million wave of investment is targeted to deliver nearly 3,000 homes, more than 22,000 jobs and two million square feet of employment space.

The Old Trafford area, once a thriving industrial estate, is identified as ripe for regeneration. Committed funding will deliver more than 800 new homes at Trafford Wharf and Stretford Mall in the coming months, and the Old Trafford Regeneration project is listed as a “priority scheme” within the integrated pipeline. Local planners anticipate a 100,000-capacity stadium at the heart of that regeneration, with the scheme forming part of a wider plan to create 15,000 new homes and a leisure and business destination.

The stadium itself is estimated as a £2 billion project and is expected to be privately funded, acting as a catalyst for surrounding redevelopment. In a statement published by the club , chief operating office Collette Roche said: “We are delighted to see the Old Trafford Regeneration project at the heart of Greater Manchester’s wider growth plan for the next decade.

“We want to build the world’s best football stadium as a new home for Manchester United and a venue fit for the biggest international events, including the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup , surrounded by a vibrant business, leisure and residential district served by excellent transport links.

“We are determined to play our part, together with other stakeholders, in making this vision a reality and unlocking the huge benefits it can deliver for the surrounding community and wider region.”

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has stated a desire for a new Old Trafford to be in place for the 2030–31 season. Initial concepts from Foster + Partners, which included a striking canopy, are under reconsideration amid complex negotiations with a major freighting firm that owns adjacent land.