Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been urged to re-consider their "hard promise" as part of an effort to "modernise" the club.
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Hollywood owners made several "hard promises" while taking overAimed at protecting the club's heritage and legacy But have been called on to look back on their promises Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
When the two actors took ownership of the club in November 2020, they pledged to protect Wrexham’s heritage with a series of "hard promises." The original pledge from Reynolds and McElhenney included a clear statement that Wrexham’s identity would remain deeply rooted in its local heritage, with specific guarantees that the club would neither move from its stadium nor change its visual identity. As a gesture of respect to the fans and the town’s legacy, the actors sought to establish trust by preserving the club’s visual symbols and culture.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT NATHAN SALT SAID
In a recent episode of the popular Wrexham fan podcast host and lifelong Wrexham fan Nathan Salt suggested that a redesign of the team’s badge could bring the club’s visual identity into alignment with modern standards seen in the football world. Salt pointed to examples from other clubs, such as Aston Villa and Liverpool, which have successfully streamlined their badges without detracting from their history.
“I know in the mission statement that Rob and Ryan said they wouldn't move Wrexham out of the stadium and they wouldn't rebrand, which was a hard promise," he said.
“But it got me thinking, what would it take for people to be open to the conversation of changing the crest? I would have to be honest and say that there are rebrands I've seen that look nice. For example, I think Bristol City's badge now is better than before. It looks cleaner. Aston Villa is another good example. Liverpool changed, and they got rid of everything but the liver bird.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The badge features an array of Welsh national symbols, including a football supported by two red dragons, the Welsh national symbol, along with the Prince of Wales feathers and the German motto "ich dien" (meaning "I serve"). These elements serve as iconic reminders of the club’s Welsh roots, though some aspects of the badge, like the Prince of Wales feathers, have stirred debate within the fanbase.
Salt’s co-host, Rich Fay, expressed mixed feelings about the potential for change, highlighting the emblem’s connection to the Prince of Wales as a source of contention. "Initially when I was asked the question, I was very much of the view of ‘why change it,'" Fay stated. "But it’s got the feathers and ‘ich dien,’ which carries different connotations. My personal opinion is that I don’t stand for those two things, so why should they be on my club’s badge? Rob and Ryan's duty is fundamentally for them to always protect the club and act in the club's best interests, but sometimes we don't know what our best interests really are.”
DID YOU KNOW?
As more clubs look to refresh their visual identities in a way that appeals to contemporary audiences, the prospect of a new Wrexham badge raises an interesting dilemma. Wrexham have not announced any concrete plans to alter its badge or other symbols. However, in a document released in August, the club laid out a strategy for fan engagement that addressed the preservation of key "heritage assets." The report, shared with the English Football League (EFL) and the Football Supporters’ Association, highlighted that any proposed changes to the club’s crest or colours would only proceed after consulting the fanbase thoroughly.
The statement read: "The club understands that certain aspects are crucial to the club history and identity and is committed to reflecting this by identifying ‘heritage assets’ which cannot be altered without consultation with supporters. The crest and colours have been identified as heritage assets and if the club wishes to make a material change to the club crest or the recognised home kit colours, they must undertake a thorough and extensive consultation process with supporters.”