Liverpool inspire Wrexham co-owner McElhenney

Rob McElhenney (L) and Ryan Reynolds officially took control of Wrexham in February 2021

Co-owner Rob McElhenney hopes Wrexham can take inspiration from Liverpool's affiliation with iconic anthem You'll Never Walk Alone as his side bid to continue their rapid rise up the football pyramid.

Manager Phil Parkinson has led the team to three successive promotions since Hollywood duo McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought the club in 2021 to sit just one step below the Premier League.

And before their return to the second tier - where they last played 43 years ago - McElhenney said the Reds' association with the song typified the kind of spirit and sense of belonging Wrexham want to emulate.

"It's the relationship and the love that you have for each other and your community is forged in pain, which I think says something beautiful about humanity," he told the Men In Blazers podcast.

"When we are at our most vulnerable and beaten down, we have each other to hold on to and to help lift each other up. I think sport is just a great metaphor for that.

"Hopefully one day we'll be competing with Liverpool, but their song, You'll Never Walk Alone, is just so unbelievably beautiful for a football team and for a community.

"One day I hope to mash their dreams into oblivion, but for now I celebrate along with Humphrey [Ker, Wrexham board member] because he loves Liverpool. Interestingly it's also [striker] Paul Mullin's team and so I've followed Liverpool and I'm so happy for them and their supporters.

"But really that song exemplifies what we're trying to do as well."

Wrexham's co-chairmen wasted no time in outlining their ambition upon acquiring the club little more than four years ago, stating their ultimate goal was to reach the Premier League.

In the aftermath of Wrexham's 3-0 victory against Charlton Athletic on 26 April - a result that sealed promotion into the Championship - Reynolds told BBC Sport Wales that the goal "has always been the Premier League".

And McElhenney admits he was surprised that many scoffed at the lofty ambition both he and Reynolds had for the club from the outset.

"People would laugh when we would say that [Premier League being the target], especially members of the press, and fans and lots of people would laugh. I always found it fascinating," added the It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia actor.

"I never got upset, I never even got a chip on my shoulder about it. I was confused. I never understood why that would be funny, that's the way the system was set up.

"Somebody else set up the system so that you could theoretically take a team from out of the league and bring them up to the top.

"Teams have proven that before. I don't hear them laughing as loudly now as they did four years ago."