Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have announced a bonus of £250,000 to Wrexham players should the club win promotion from the National League this season.
Actors Reynolds and McElhenney completed their takeover of the Welsh club earlier this month and have quickly implemented a players' bonus scheme by reaching an agreement with captain Shaun Pearson on behalf of the squad.
Wrexham are currently seventh in the National League and occupy the final play-off position.
Executive director Humphrey Ker told the club's official website: "Rob and Ryan wanted to recognise the players' confidence that they can reach this season's play-offs and provide an added financial incentive to achieve this.
"There was no obligation to address this, but it felt like the right thing to do in order to support the existing playing squad who are all playing for their futures at the club.
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Celebrity owners of sports teams
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Former England football star David Beckham is the the president and co-owner of Major League Soccer team Inter Miami CF. Beckham had exercised his option to buy a MLS expansion team, which he had received as part of the contract he signed with the LA Galaxy in 2007. AFP -
NBA superstar LeBron James is a minority shareholder of Liverpool Football Club. In 2011, he received a two per cent stake in the club for about $6.5 million. Needless to say, that turned out to be a rock-solid investment. Getty -
Singer and actor Justin Timberlake is a minority owner of NBA side Memphis Grizzlies. AFP -
In 2016, comedian and actor Will Ferrell grabbed the opportunity to invest in an MLS expansion team and he is now a part-owner of Los Angeles FC along with NBA legend Magic Johnson and women's football star Mia Hamm. AP -
Jennifer Lopez, who was a minority owner of NFL side Miami Dolphins, and Alex Rodriguez have made a $1.7 billion (Dh6.2bn) bid to buy Major League Baseball side New York Mets. AFP -
Serena, left, and Venus Williams with their Miami Dolphins jerseys after it was announced the tennis stars had become minority owners of the NFL team in 2009. AP -
NBA legend Michael Jordan had a minority stake in the Charlotte Hornets. In 2010, Jordan bought a majority stake in the team, making him the first former NBA player to own a team. AFP -
Bollywood actress and Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta has been part of the Indian Premier League T20 tournament since its inception in 2008. AFP -
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan owns IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders and he has now created the Knight Riders franchise that owns a team in the Caribbean Premier League. AFP -
Hollywood power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith acquired minority stakes in NBA side Philadelphia 76ers in 2011. AFP -
Musician and Grammy award winner Usher is a member of an investment group that bought a stake in NBA side Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005. AFP -
David Beckham, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville during the National League play-off final between Salford City and AFC Fylde at Wembley Stadium in 2019. In 2014, Salford were taken over by former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs, Gary, Phil, Scholes and Butt who bought 10 per cent of the club each. In 2019, Beckham purchased 10 per cent share in the club. Getty -
Lois Maynard of Salford City is congratulated by co-owner Ryan Giggs in 2018. Getty -
Actor Russell Crowe is a majority owner of Australian rugby team South Sydney Rabbitohs. He has been a life-long supporter of the team. AFP -
Singer Stacy Ferguson, better known as Fergie, is a minority owner of NFL side Miami Dolphins, along with a whole bunch A-list stars. AFP -
Actor and comedian Drew Carey was one of the first American celebrities to get into 'soccer' team ownership when he bought a minority stake in MLS expansion side Seattle Sounders in 2007. AFP -
Hollywood legend Bill Murray is the co-owner of the St Paul Saints, an independent minor league baseball team in Minnesota. Getty -
Sweden's globe-trotting football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, centre, at a training session of Swedish football club Hammarby - a team he part owns. AFP -
Comedian Bill Maher became a minority owner of MLB team New York Mets in 2012. "It's mostly an investment, an amazing investment. And an investment that everyone told me not to do back in 2011," he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. AFP
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"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.
"We have talked already about next season and the recruitment of new players. The current players are in the best place to stake their own claim to be part of the club's journey.
"There won't be any contract discussions with the existing senior squad until the end of the season, which is another reason we thought it was right to put the incentive scheme in place for the current players."
Ker said players will receive £200 for each win and £50 for a draw, as long as Wrexham remain in a play-off position, while a £250,000 bonus pot would reward promotion.
Wrexham's new ownership believe the incentive scheme is the most generous ever offered since the Red Dragons' relegation from the English Football League in 2008.
