Wrexham wasn't Ryan Reynolds' 'first choice' with Hollywood Star 'in talks' for EFL club in 2020
It's not always sunny in Hartlepool, especially since their relegation back to the National League was confirmed. And you'll never guess who's replacing them in League Two...
In 2003, Roman Abramovich nearly bought Tottenham instead of Chelsea.
Spurs fans have spent the entirety of the last two decades gawking at the frenzied success of their west London rivals - success that could so easily have been theirs.
Spare a thought, then, for Hartlepool United supporters who look to be headed for a similar fate, because as it turns out, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were in talks to buy them in 2020 before they poured their cash into Wrexham.
READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds proves love for Notts County after 120th minute 'dream moment'
The north-east club were promoted to League Two just a few months after the Hollywood duo approached them, but in a poetic twist, Wrexham are now replacing them in the division.
In a recent interview with the i, soon-to-be former Soccer Saturday presenter and Hartlepool fanatic Jeff Stelling said Reynolds and McElhenney were all in and ready to come aboard, but hesitancy from club owner Raj Singh queered the deal.
"It was a real sliding doors moment for the club," Stelling, who is also Hartlepool club president, admitted.
Would Reynolds and McElhenney have had as much success, both on the pitch and on Netflix, if they took over at Hartlepool instead of Wrexham? Let us know in the comments section below.
"It’s 100% true that they wanted to buy Hartlepool and it’s ironic they went for Wrexham in the end who are going into the Football League when the club who was their first choice, which was us, are going out of the Football League.
"It’s gone now though, there’s no point in regrets," Stelling added.
Like Wrexham, Hartlepool are perennial underachievers in a one-club town with an endearing core of come what may supporters, and although they missed out on Reynolds and McElhenney's millions, Stelling reckons there's still reason to be optimistic.
"What I do hope is that investors look at the success they have had at Wrexham and it may be of benefit to us in the long-term," he said.
"Surely when people look at the joy those two film stars are getting out of non-league football then hopefully there is someone out there who thinks 'I wouldn’t mind a bit of that'."
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