Wrexham: Hollywood owners close in on Stok Racecourse lease

Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are a step closer to buying the Stok Racecourse lease for the club.

Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) directors are to recommend to members they accept a deal that would mean the club taking over the lease from them.

If approved, the deal would ensure the venue's status in hosting major games, including internationals.

The agreement would also guarantee Wrexham continue to play at the ground until at least 30 June, 2115.

In a statement Wrexham said: "The negotiations between the club and those representing the WST have been undertaken against the backdrop of wanting to ensure that everyone's interests were protected. We believe that we have achieved this objective."

The club will pay the Trust £187,000 for the lease, plus £1,000 a year, "increasing by 3% per annum" while also paying the Trust' legal fees for the deal.

"The most significant non-financial commitment made by the club was the positive commitment that the men's first team will continue to play at the Racecourse Ground until at least June 30, 2115," said the statement.

• Wrexham FC: Delay in building new Racecourse Kop stand

Co-chairmen McElhenney and Reynolds said: "We were delighted to receive the support of the directors of the WST and share their understandable desire to protect the long-term future of the club.

"Our legacy at the club will not be defined while we are its custodians, so we wanted to address the anomaly in the WST lease for the Racecourse Ground that did not include the requirement for the team to actually play at the stadium, only not allow it to be used for any other purpose.

"We didn't want anyone in the future to be able to exploit that position.

"The payment of £187,000, is an equivalent amount to that contributed by fans to save the club. To know that we will provide the funding to effectively pay everyone back who contributed to save the club is worth every penny and gives us a great deal of satisfaction.

"We would appeal to the 824 members who have a vote, to do so in favour of the proposal and allow the club to continue on this wonderful journey we are all on."

Trust members will make their decision at a special general meeting on Monday, 4 December.

• HOLLYWOOD OR BUST: How Wrexham AFC became a global sensation

• ACID DREAM: How a Welsh farmhouse sparked a revolution of the mind