Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac haven’t forgotten last year’s drama. Now the Wrexham owners are taking a humorous jab at this weekend’s opponent – and refer to the infamous “Spygate” case in a cheeky video.
Southampton visit Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday, and the Hollywood duo took the opportunity to make fun of last year’s play-off drama.
Read: Unemployed manager observed at Old Trafford
The Saints were kicked out of the play-off final and deducted four points after an intern was caught observing semi-final opponent Middlesbrough in training. Similar incidents were later uncovered at Oxford United and Ipswich Town earlier in the season.
“Today we want to talk about privacy
Wrexham’s A-listed owners appeared in a video on the club’s X account, which started with Reynolds emerging from behind a tree.
In a skit that was apparently intended to promote jersey sponsor Firefox, the Deadpool star says:
“Today, for no particular reason, we want to talk about the importance of privacy.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” creator Mac adds:
“More specifically, how to prevent spies from seeing what you are doing.
EFL reacts
While the English Football League has refrained from commenting on the video, BBC Sport has been informed that key EFL figures believe the video is in bad taste.
Reynolds jokes about searching for “how to run a football club” before the duo declares that privacy is “important to people everywhere” – specifically mentioning Middlesbrough, Oxford and Ipswich by name.
Reynolds concludes:
“Refreshing, isn’t it? An organization that actually respects your privacy.
The 59-second video ends with the duo looking at a cell phone that allegedly shows a Southampton pickleball team in training.
Not the first jab
This is not the first time Wrexham have taken a stab at Southampton. When announcing the league games for the current season in June, the club wrote “check the training facility” with an asterisk clarifying “for unauthorized visitors” on the date September 17 – two days before the meeting with Southampton.
The table situation
Wrexham are in 19th place after seven games, while Southampton are ninth with ten points – three more than the Welsh.
Tonda Eckert’s men won 5-1 against Wrexham the last time they visited the Racecourse Ground in April, securing a play-off place at the expense of the Welsh.
Parkinson: “We’ve put it behind us”
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Spygate, Wrexham kept in touch with the EFL after the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.
But manager Phil Parkinson says his side’s only focus now is on putting in a positive performance against the Saints, after their 6-0 loss to West Ham last time out.
“We are the team that was obviously affected, because we were number seven, but we accepted the EFL’s decision,” Parkinson said.
“Southampton were punished, and they have had to accept their penalty and move on.
“That’s all I can say about it, really. It’s over. We concentrate on what we have to do, and so do they.
Jørgen Strand Larsen and Kristoffer Zachariassen deliver in Europe
