Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham impact outlined ahead of Manchester United test

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has praised the work Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have done to lift the city since buying the club ahead of the friendly clash with Manchester United.

Reynolds and McElhenney bought the Red Dragons back in 2021 and, after suffering play-off heartbreak in their first full season in charge, they managed to oversee the club's promotion back to the Football League as champions in the 2022/23 campaign. Success on the pitch has been matched off it thanks to the popularity of the FX documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'.

The Hollywood duo star heavily in the series which introduces those in America to the North Wales club. Such is their popularity stateside, Wrexham are currently in the US on a pre-season tour ahead of their return to the Football League.

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On Wednesday, they face a youthful United side at San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium and before the game Parkinson hailed the efforts of his owners to help bring Wrexham back from the brink. He told the The Leader: "For the area (of Wrexham), the positivity is incredible and the way that the success of the football club and the profile of the club has raised the spirits in Wrexham has been great to be a part of.

"Long may that continue because a team which is winning lifts an area and obviously, more importantly, Rob and Ryan what they’re doing in terms of putting things in place for the structure of the club going forward is equally as important as winning games of football on a Saturday afternoon. We all want to be part of success, but also