DRAGONS A-LISTERS DANGLE A £250K CARROT
HOLLYWOOD actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will pay their Wrexham players a £250,000 bonus should the club win promotion from the National League this season.
Deadpool star Reynolds and McElhenney completed their takeover of the Dragons earlier this month and this week met with captain Shaun Pearson to discuss the absence of a players’ incentive scheme at the club.
Wrexham are the longest-serving side in the National League having spent 13 years in the NonLeague’s top-flight.
Dean Keates’ men, however, currently lie within the play-off positions and have serious ambitions to return to make an emotional return to the Football League in their new owners’ first season at the helm.
Until the end of the season, anyone who plays in any game will now receive £200 for each win and £50 for a draw, as long as the club remains in a play-off position. A bonus pot of £250,000 is also on offer if promotion is achieved this season.
The new incentives are thought to be the most generous ever offered by the club since they dropped out of the Football League in 2008.
Humphrey Ker, executive director, said: “Rob and Ryan wanted to recognise the players confidence that they can reach this season’s playoffs and provide an added financial incentive to achieve this.
“With the transfer window shut, we all need to get behind this group of players and Rob and Ryan wanted to be at the forefront, demonstrating their support.”
Pearson added: “We are thankful for the incentive being put to us from Rob and Ryan. Their takeover has brought exciting times for the whole club, the town and the community and we want to bring more excitement through our achievements on the pitch too.”