Wrexham transfer verdict delivered after former Man Utd star spotted in stands

Rumours linking ex-Manchester United star Phil Jones with a role at Wrexham have been denied after he was spotted watching a game with Ryan Reynolds at the Racecourse Ground

Claims that former Manchester United star Phil Jones could be about to join Wrexham as a player or coach have been firmly shut down. Speculation was rife last weekend after the ex-England defender was spotted watching the Red Dragons’ 3-1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers alongside the club’s Hollywood co-owner Ryan Reynolds

The sighting of the 33-year-old with the Deadpool actor in a hospitality box at the Racecourse Ground sparked rumours that he could be about to make a sensational return from retirement for Wrexham following their difficult start to life in the Championship. Jones left United in 2023 after 12 years at the Premier League club, spending a season out of the game before deciding to end his playing career.

He has since taken up a coaching role with United’s academy, with rumours also circulating that he could be about to make the switch to a position within Wrexham’s youth set-up, or even be chosen as a potential successor to manager Phil Parkinson. However, those suggestions have now been rubbished by club director Shaun Harvey, who said Jones was simply there to enjoy the game as a guest and neighbour of chief executive Michael Williamson.

“Poor old Phil Jones came as a guest of Michael Williamson to the game, because they live very close together,” the former EFL chief executive told the Fearless in Devotion podcast.

“If we had won that game on Saturday, nobody would have cared less that he was there. Then all of a sudden, it’s ‘What’s this conspiracy that’s going on,’ because Phil Jones is watching a game.

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“I can officially confirm that Phil Jones was enjoying his day at Wrexham long before the actual result, and wasn’t there for any other purpose than to extend his learning experience as he’s now a former footballer.

“There were probably other ex-footballers and ex-managers there who weren’t in the Betty Buzz Suite, but it’s just easy to build a story or a narrative that suits an agenda.”

Tipped as a promising talent early in his career, Jones completed a £16.5m transfer from Blackburn Rovers to United in 2011. He later lifted the Premier League title during Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season at Old Trafford.

Recurring injuries hampered much of his playing days, and the defender gradually slipped down the pecking order before leaving. At the start of the 2023/24 campaign, Jones took up a coaching position within United’s academy.

Meanwhile, Reynolds has attended two Wrexham home games so far this season, but is yet to see his team win after witnessing a 3-2 loss to West Brom in August. Phil Parkinson’s side have so far picked up just four points from their opening five games in the Championship, leaving them 21st in the table, just one point above the relegation zone.

Reports at the weekend claimed talks had already been held over the manager’s future following Wrexham’s rocky start, but that has also been denied by Harvey.

As well as Jones, Reynolds was also joined on Saturday by actor Colin Hanks, son of Hollywood star Tom Hanks, after the pair recently worked together on a documentary about Canadian comedy legend John Candy.

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