BRETT ORMEROD believes other Football League clubs are jealous of Wrexham’s Hollywood riches and the former Reds’ striker is convinced Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are in it for the long haul.

The multi-millionaire actors completed their takeover at The Racecourse in February 2021 and their investment in the club paid dividends last season when Phil Parkinson’s men clinched the National League title and a return to the EFL following a 15-year absence.

Few clubs in the lower levels are able to compete with the money Wrexham are generating and investing, and Ormerod, who played for the Reds from 2012-14, told Stocklytics that their rivals are envious and he can see that the duo are fully committed to the project.

“I wouldn’t say any other club is bitter about Wrexham’s situation, but they’ll definitely be jealous and you can’t blame them,” said Ormerod, an FA Trophy winner with Wrexham in 2013 who has also played for the likes of Accrington Stanley, Blackpool, Southampton and Preston.

“Ryan and Rob are obviously in this for the long haul. They obviously didn’t want to just make a ‘Class of 92’, they wanted something that had an existing fanbase and a good history. I just hope that they are in this for the long run. That’s the danger [that they aren’t].

“When you look at bigger teams like Reading, owners come in with the best intentions, it’s not always going to make money and I think some business people don’t realise that. They end up losing a lot of money and walk away from the club whilst leaving said club in financial tatters. The people who suffer are the club itself and the fans.”

Wrexham’s popularity has soared all over the world since the duo became owners and the impact of the “Welcome to Wrexham” documentary

Ormerod knows how close the club came to go out of business before it was saved by Wrexham Supporters Trust and says Reds fans deserve to be in the position they are in.

“Wrexham are very strong. I was on commentary for their game against Accrington Stanley,” said the 47-year-old, who was in the Wrexham side beaten 2-0 by Newport County in the 2013 Conference play-off final.

“Wrexham have always been a well-supported club and now they have the Hollywood glitz - it’s a bit like the circus comes to town now with Wrexham.

“When I was there as a player, the club was on the brink of bankruptcy and only survived because of the fans so they deserve to be in the position they’re in now.

“The only flip side is that whoever they play against now, especially in the lower leagues, it’s like they’re playing against Man City. Everyone tries to up the performance in that respect.”

Parkinson strengthened the squad in the summer following their record-breaking campaign and Wrexham were installed as favourites for the League Two title.

The promotion challenge has materialised with Wrexham among the frontrunners with nearly half of the 2023-24 campaign gone and Ormerod is backing Parkinson’s side to finish the job off and secure a place in League One.

“Phil Parkinson has a certain style of play. He’s done well at multiple clubs, including Bradford. He’s got a certain pedigree,” said Ormerod.

“From what I have seen of Wrexham so far, I think they’ve got a strong team, full of good footballers. Time will tell how far they can go. I think they’re good enough to get promoted this season. They’ll definitely be up near the top.

“League Two is probably the easiest division to get out of compared to the likes of the National League. The squad Phil has at the moment is definitely good enough for League One. Whether the current team is good enough for the Championship, I’m not so sure.”

However, Ormerod is optimistic the Reds can progress to the Championship and possibly the Premier League because Reynolds and McElhenney are so ambitious.

“Hopefully, I’d like to see them in the Championship or Premier League in five years,” added Ormerod.

“The owners are ambitious enough to get there. They’ve always had the right fanbase and now they have the might of the Americans.

“Where Wrexham end up depends on where the owners want to take it. I wish them all the best because the fans have been through a lot of pain. I remember being there when the bills weren’t being paid and they were being threatened to be kicked out of the ground.”