Reynolds and McElhenney Spoof 'Spygate' to Mock Southampton

Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have humorously referenced the 'Spygate' scandal in a social media video, poking fun at Southampton ahead of their upcoming Championship clash.

The video, released on social media, features the Hollywood actors emerging from behind a tree, mimicking the incident where a Southampton intern was caught filming a Middlesbrough training session. The 'Spygate' scandal led to Southampton being penalized by the English Football League.

In the spoof, McElhenney introduces himself as "Rob Mac, co-chairman of Wrexham AFC," before Reynolds jumps out from behind the tree, stating, "I'm Ryan Reynolds, also co-chairman of Wrexham AFC. Today, for no particular reason, we want to talk about the importance of privacy."

McElhenney then adds, "Specifically how to prevent spies from looking at what you're doing on the internet." The skit, which serves as an advertisement for Firefox, continues to reference the controversial practice.

McElhenney lists several clubs – Wrexham, Oxford, Ipswich, and Middlesbrough – before Reynolds jokes about watching the "Southampton pickleball team" train on his phone, implying Wrexham's opponents are engaged in surreptitious activities.

The 'Spygate' incident involved a Southampton intern, William Salt, who was discovered filming Middlesbrough's training session prior to a Championship play-off semi-final match. Daily Mail Sport reported on the revelations, which eventually led to disciplinary action against Southampton.

During the EFL investigation, Salt testified that he was acting under instruction and did not feel he had a choice. WhatsApp messages presented as evidence showed Salt being praised after a spying mission on Oxford United in December, with messages stating, "You legend. Manager loved it."

Reynolds and McElhenney have been credited with transforming Wrexham's fortunes since their takeover in 2021, guiding the club from non-league to the Championship and leveraging their entertainment backgrounds for publicity.