Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made headlines with their purchase of Welsh club in 2020

The Hollywood team of English lower league football is set to expand its stadium after planners approved plans to redevelop the existing disused Kop stand.

Wrexham Association Football Club has been the focus of major attention in the football world since it was bought by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2020 and made the subject of a docuseries called Welcome to Wrexham.

The club recently made headlines after banning their striker Paul Mullin from wearing controversial boots bearing an expletive-laden message directed at the Conservative Party.

wrexham-kop-planning-840x543

The new stand would allow the Welsh national team to return to the ground

The pair鈥檚 redevelopment plans for the Racecourse Ground, the oldest international stadium in the world, would see its capacity grow from 10,000 to 15,500, with the ground floor of the new stand providing a 600-person event and exhibition space for use on non-match days.

It will return the ground to being a four-sided stadium 鈥� the current Kop has not been used since 2008 and is considered a safety risk 鈥� and would allow the Welsh national team to play at the ground.

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, co-chairs of the club, said: 鈥淲ith planning committee approval now secured, we can move forward with the Kop development, starting with the demolition of the existing structure.

>>See also: To refurb or rebuild: what next for Old Trafford?

>>See also: Old Trafford dilemma: how six other major stadium projects fared

>>See also: Foxes up and running as Leicester City stadium job gets green light

鈥淭he derelict state of the Kop, has long been an eyesore and we hope that by the start of the 2024/25 season, it will be brought back into use, with another 5,500 fans able to watch games live, as well as providing a superb backdrop for those watching on TV.

鈥淲e would like to thank the planning committee for the positive decision they have made and all those who have been involved with our application.鈥�

A planning report, which recommended backing the plans, said the revamp would 鈥渞aise the profile of the club but also the city of Wrexham itself鈥�.

An application for funding from the Levelling Up Fund is expected to be determined on November 30 and the club hopes that the new stand will be open for the beginning of the 2024/25 season.

Team behind the plans includes AFL Architects, Gardiner & Theobald, Ramboll and Savills.

Topics