Wrexham ‘a different level’ says new AFC Telford United shareholder Chris Ball
New AFC Telford United part-owner Chris Ball said his consortium’s buy-in to the Shropshire non-league club really should not be compared with Wrexham.
The Shropshire-born American film producer is at the head of the 15 new Los Angeles-based investors in Telford.
But Ball maintains that big-spending Wrexham, owned by US film actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney since 2020, are on “a different level”.
“The comparison should stop here. That’s totally different,” said Ball.
Telford United Special on Monday’s Sports Hour at 18:00 GMT
“Obviously, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are putting a lot of money into the club.
“I mean huge amounts of money. It’s a different level altogether.
“We expected the comparison but it’s obviously very different,” he told BBC Radio Shropshire.
North Wales-based Wrexham, who now play in League Two, are three levels higher up the overall English football pyramid than the Southern Central Premier League.
There was only a division between the sides in the 2016-17 season – Telford were in National League North – when Ball first began talking to the Bucks.
But Ball, who first began to follow the club in the 1960s during their Wellington Town era, sensed the time was right to take up the 21% shareholding on offer.
“A couple of shareholders graciously gave back some of their shares to the club,” he said. “And I guess then the opportunity arose to purchase these shares.
“It was a good opportunity in the sense that most of the money we have invested has gone into the club rather than buying shares from other shareholders.
“They’re all friends. They all live in Los Angeles. They’re all successful businessmen, real estate, bankers and they’re all huge sports fans and I’ve introduced them to Telford United.”
So much so he has even had them listening to match commentaries on BBC Radio Shropshire – and Ball admits they have become big fans of match commentators Scott Harris and Steve Humbles.
Having come over to England in person to watch Saturday’s 3-2 home win over Sudbury Town, which consolidated Telford’s spot in the play-off places, Ball insists he and his fellow backers are in it for the long term.
“We want to try to ensure the club stays healthy and longevity is what we’re looking for,” he added.
“I know fans are looking for people to put lots and lots of money in for a few years. But then it can all go sour. For us, it’s just long-term stability, that’s our main aim.
“The main thing for us is to provide some assistance. Our group have a lot of experienced people in business and we just want to contribute in that way.”
