06 May 2023 , 11:37
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Newly-crowned King Charles played a surprising role in Wrexham's promotion charge, by ensuring they were able to take a private jet to games for much of the season.
The monarch visited the Red Dragons' Racecourse Ground in December, with the squad forced to fly down their match against Eastleigh the next day as a result. The King's visit left too little time to drive to the south coast, with the club instead chartering a plane.
Star striker Paul Mullin has opened up on how that incident led to Phil Parkinson's side flying to games for an extended period following the King's visit. Mullin revealed co-owner Rob McElhenney promised to charter a plane for as long as Wrexham kept winning.
"That come about by accident, basically King Charles came to Wrexham to see the players so we had to fly to get to the match we had on time. Rob made us a deal and said: ‘If youse win I'll get you [a private jet] next time until youse get beat’," he told GQ.
"Then we went on a huge winning streak, so they had no choice. From the first game of the season we've had the same pressure: we have to win every game because everyone's out to beat us.
Ryan Reynolds mispronounces name of new Wrexham signing in hilarious video
"I love it when it gets to crunch time in the season and the pressure becomes intensified, I prefer pressure because, like, if you don't have pressure coming towards the end of the season then why are you playing football? It means you're doing something right."
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Wrexham won the National League title a fortnight ago (AFP via Getty Images)Unfortunately for McElhenney's wallet, Wrexham beat Eastleigh 2-0, before going on an 18-game unbeaten run. That unbeaten run helped them surge to promotion, with Parkinson's side crowned champions of the National League a fortnight ago.
McElhenney and co-owner Ryan Reynolds will now see Wrexham play in League Two for the first time in 15 years. The duo are bankrolling the squad's celebration in Las Vegas, with Reynolds overwhelmed by their achievement.
"I'm not sure I can actually process what happened tonight, I'm still a little speechless. One thing that is running through my head over and over again is people saying at the beginning 'Why Wrexham?'" Reynolds told BT Sport after their promotion.
"This is exactly why. What is happening right now is why. Boreham Wood showed up today. They are an incredible team. This entire story, the reason why we are all on the edge of our seats is because Notts County are so damn good as well.
"They deserve to go up. That is something we feel quite strongly about. We are rooting for them. We want to see them go up and face them in League Two because they're incredible."
The final make up of League Two, barring the play-off winners, will be decided by the end of Monday, with the fourth tier playing its final game of the season.