Former Wrexham striker Steven Fletcher has claimed co-owner Rob McElhenney ‘begged’ him to stay just days before his release from the club.
The former Premier League forward enjoyed a two-year stint at the Welsh club, helping them to achieve back-to-back promotions in the English Football Leagues but departed the club at the end of his deal this year.
His experience was utilised well by manager Phil Parkinson and his 16 goals in 77 appearances contributed towards their team successes – but Fletcher revealed how close he was to remaining at the club on the William Hill-sponsored podcast ‘The Warm-Up’.
“Rob, he loved his golf as much as I did. He invited me in the summer, we obviously went to Vegas for the off-season thing, getting promoted. After Vegas, all the boys flew home, but me and Elliot Lee flew to L.A. to meet the owner, to play a few rounds of golf with him, so it was quite good, it’s just little things like that.
“In the buggy, he begged me to stay. Two days later, I got released! I was like ‘he’s sucked me right in there!’”
Ryan Reynolds’ relationship
Fletcher also opened up on his strong relationship with Ryan Reynolds, the other co-owner of the club.
Given the high level of apprehension when the two hollywood names took over the club, Fletcher spoke to their unwavering support and hands-on approach that included the Deadpool star sending him video messages directly after scoring.
“If I go through my WhatsApp with Ryan Reynolds, honestly, it’s video after video,” said Fletcher. “I went through a little patch last season: I kept coming on with about 20 minutes to go, it was three games in a row that I’d scored the winner.
“I’d get in the changing room, you know what you do, you go on your phone straight away, and the first message wasn’t from the wife, it was him! Straight away, it was him straight away with a big video message.
“I think that’s why Ryan liked me, because when he’d come in the dressing room, quite a lot of the boys were like ‘Oh, there’s Ryan, how you doing’. I’d just shout across the changing room to him, ‘Alright big man!’” he added when asked if he liked to banter with Reynolds.
Their relationship was given more context when Reynolds posted an emotional farewell to the striker on social media, describing him as ‘greatness’ amid other glowing compliments.
The Red Dragons are gearing up for their biggest challenge yet in this new era for the club, taking on the second tier of English football. With Fletcher’s chapter now over, the club are looking to bring in more quality and experience to ensure their club’s journey continues to emulate that of a Hollywood film.
