RYAN Reynolds and Rob McElhenney look set to be offered Freedom of the City by Wrexham Council.
The Council is planning to confer the ‘freedom of the city’ status on the Hollywood A-listers for the impact they have had on Wrexham since buying the football club.
The proposal will be tabled at Wrexham Council’s Executive Board on Tuesday (November 8) in recognition of the club’s long and proud history, and the impact the two owners have had in helping to promote Wrexham across the world.
If agreed, the recommendation will be put forward for consideration at full Council in December.
Councillor Mark Pritchard (Ind), Leader of Wrexham Council, says: “Football is the beating heart of our community and there’s always been incredible passion and support for the club.
“We have an amazing story here in Wrexham, along with a unique character and identity that is winning fans all over the world.
“These two Hollywood actors have had an incredible impact on both the football club and the community and have helped catapult Wrexham onto the world stage.
“You couldn’t wish to meet two nicer people – they really are two wonderful guys who’ve put their heart and soul into this city, and it feels like the right time to talk about how we recognise that.”
Councillor David A Bithell (Ind), Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council, added: “Football is in our blood in Wrexham, and the fortunes of the club have always had a huge bearing on our community.
“We are living and enjoying very exciting times and I’m pleased this proposal is being put forward to Executive Board.
“The owners are helping us promote Wrexham as a place to visit across the world, and we need to think about how we recognise that.
“Their impact on our community has been phenomenal.”
Although the move has been discussed across the council’s political spectrum, questions have been raised about the timing of it.
The authority is to decide on the club’s planning application for the proposed new Kop stand next week, the day before the Executive Board meeting.
READ MORE; Wrexham AFC's Kop plans likely to be approved
In a joint Statement - Cllr Dana Davies (Labour Group Leader) and Cllr Marc Jones (Plaid Cymru Group Leader) said: "The Freedom of the City civic award being proposed for Wrexham AFC and its current owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny is something that has been discussed with group leaders and the mayor over the past fortnight.
“This civic award is the highest accolade that the County Borough can bestow and is usually granted for outstanding service to, or achievement associated with the County Borough of Wrexham and, as such, it is a decision for full council.
"There was cross-party agreement that this should not be discussed or announced before the planning application for the Racecourse Kop, which will be debated at committee on Monday, November 7.
“We all felt it would be inappropriate to announce any proposal regarding the club and its owners in advance of that as it could be perceived to be having an undue influence on the planning process.
“Unfortunately that cross-party agreement was broken by the Leader of the Council - there is no good reason for this to come before the Executive Board. It's a matter for the full council to decide at its next meeting on 21st December. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
The leader of the Conservative group on the council Cllr Hugh Jones, a member of the Executive Board as lead member for Place and Environment, declined to comment at this stage when approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here