Wrexham AFC used taxpayer funds for pitch upgrades not mentioned in initial grant

Documents made no reference to pitch works later added to £18m deal, with club spending £1.7m on upgrades

Wrexham AFC, the football club part-owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, used taxpayer funds to re-lay its pitch, even though initial grant documents assessing the state investment did not make reference to it.

The club has been awarded £18m in grants, with the first £3.8m tranche in February 2022. However, legally required state aid documents relating to that initial grant made no reference to the pitch works.