Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac make stunning statement on Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham future

Wrexham’s Hollywood owners have made a stunning statement by insisting that head coach Phil Parkinson has the ‘job for life’.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took over as majority owners back in February 2021.

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And in the years since, Wrexham have risen up the football pyramid having secured three successive promotions from the National League to the Championship between 2022 and 2025.

Parkinson, meanwhile, took over the Red Dragons reins back on 2021 and has been instrumental in Wrexham’s rise.

The 58-year-old was convinced by It’s Always Sunny co-creator and star Mac to drop down three divisions to take over as Wrexham boss having twice previously turned down their advances.

Parkinson has Wrexham ‘job for life’

In an interview with The Athletic, Mac spoke highly of Parkinson, starting: “Phil has been the lynchpin of this entire thing.

“For him to take that risk and to come on that journey with us — no, create that journey and the blueprint — has been… critical is not the word… essential is not the word.

“I don’t know I have the words to fully describe how integral Phil has been to the story and success of Wrexham. He said to me very early in our conversations, ‘One thing I know for sure is you will fire me one day’.

“I said, ‘Really?’. He said every football manager knows at some stage he will get fired. I said, ‘OK, that’s fair, and I get that’s part of the gig’.

“But, Ryan and I talk all the time, and I just don’t see a scenario where Phil Parkinson gets fired. It doesn’t make any sense. He has been the architect, the creator of this. From our perspective, he’s got the job for life. Unless he finds another job he wants to go off and do, he’s our coach. He’s our manager. He’s our guy.

“I know that sounds silly and maybe irresponsible to say publicly, but the truth is that’s how we feel. And we have always worn our hearts on our sleeves. Always been as honest as possible.”

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Deadpool actor Reynolds was just as complimentary of Parkinson, adding: “They say the Welsh are born with the heart of a poet and the fist of a fighter.

“You can offer him all the skill in the world, but he will pass instantly if he feels that character is not going to reach the heights he expects to reach. It’s the Venn diagram of football and the entertainment industry. Or any industry. Pick your own. It’s always the same.

“Where they all intersect is culture starts at the top down. If ‘Mr Bigshot Movie Star Guy’ shows up late to set, and is rude and entitled, I promise you in two, three or four weeks it works its way down to the person working on their first movie.

“Phil has made this all about the locker room. All about those players really feeling a sense of community.”

Wrexham suffer hiccup in promotion push

Wrexham are chasing an unprecedented fourth successive promotion, though they suffered a hiccup in their bid to secure a Premier League spot as they fell to surprise 2-0 home defeat to Millwall on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions managed just one shot on target in Wales at the weekend as a Max Cleworth own goal and a late Josh Coburn strike confirmed all the spoils for the south London side.

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And Reynolds, who was in attendance for the loss, insists that Parkinson has his full backing.

“I trust Phil. I genuinely trust him,” Reynolds continued.

“We’ve just been in a transfer window and I was on the phone with him every day.

“I’m thinking, ‘Why aren’t we going for this player? He wants to come’. But Phil doesn’t have to explain himself. He just has to say it’s not right. That’s it. No follow-up question.”

Wrexham, who remained sixth in the table despite defeat to Millwall on Saturday, are next in FA Cup action when they take on Championship rivals Ipswich on Friday.

Parkinson’s side then return to league duties with a trip to playoff chasing side Bristol City in mid-February.