See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL) Published: 13:57 BST, 11 September 2026 | Updated: 13:58 BST, 11 September 2026
Ryan Reynolds's beloved football team Wrexham AFC have issued a public apology after constructing a new building at their training base without permission.The club, owned by the Deadpool star and Rob McElhenney, were told to 'get their act in order' for bypassing planning laws over a new pavilion at Colliers Park.Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson said the building was a 'significant step forward' in the Championship club's bid to gain promotion to the Premier League.But officials were told their swift rise from non-league – documented in the hit Disney+ series 'Welcome to Wrexham' - was 'no excuse' for breaking the rules.An application to build the pavilion was only lodged with Wrexham Council in August - once the work was almost complete at the base, located in the village of Gresford.Council planning committee chair Councillor Mike Morris said: 'I do wish that people would get their act in order and not put in retrospective applications just because it suits you. Which, at the end of the day, that's what it came down to.'You wanted to do it in the summer, and you know the fact you've had good results, and you know the football club is doing very well, we all applaud that.'But it's no excuse for not following the procedure properly. It's no different to any other retrospective application. So it will be a matter of members to consider whether they are going to support it or not, and that will come out in the debate.' Rob McElhenney (left) and Ryan Reynolds (right) with the League One trophy in April 2025 The club constructed a new building at their Colliers Park training base without permissionWrexham's chief strategy officer Aidan Miller said the club offered a 'sincere apology'.He added: 'The club sought to undertake the works during the summer off-season period, when activity at the site is significantly reduced, allowing construction activity and associated impacts to be managed effectively and within the site footprint.'The club recognises that planning permission would ordinarily be secured before development commences, and we sincerely apologise to the committee and local residents.''Notwithstanding this, throughout the development of the project, the club has sought to act responsibly by selecting an established sporting location, making use of existing infrastructure and designed a proposal to minimise impacts on neighbouring occupiers and the wider community.'He added: 'The club has engaged fully and thoroughly with the planning process, including undertaking pre-application consultation, engaging with statutory consultees, and responding to matters raised in relation to parking, highways, and phosphate mitigation.'The application before you should therefore be determined on its planning merits that support the officer's recommendation for approval.'The council will vote on the plans at a later date once reports have been completed.
