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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Rich Jones

Ryan Reynolds responds as Wrexham star replaced by Ben Foster makes feelings clear

Wrexham have created something special since being taken over by Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney - and that has never been more apparent than in the last couple of weeks.

The Welsh club have stormed beyond the 100 point barrier in the National League as their promotion fight with Notts County goes down to the wire. They've also pulled off an incredible signing, tempting former Manchester United and England goalkeeper Ben Foster out of retirement to join the club.

Foster's arrival came after an injury to No.1 Rob Lainton and saw Mark Howard, who has played 37 games in the Reds goal this season, dropped down the pecking order. Foster has started both games since he joined with Howard still having to sit on the bench despite Lainton's injury.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Wrexham get promoted this season? Join the discussion in the comments section.

That was a scenario that many - including manager Phil Parkinson - would not go down well with the former Sheffield United and Bolton stopper. Yet his response summed up the team spirit that has fostered at the Racecourse Ground and has drawn high praise from star owners Reynolds and McElhenney.

Howard appeared with Foster on his popular Yours, Mine, Away! Podcast and recalled the moment he was told his new teammate would be joining the club.

"I was walking into my daughter's school play and he (Phil Parkinson) has gone 'I've got a chance of signing Ben Foster'," Howard said.

"And I said straight away, just instinct, 'just do it - if it gets us over the line, do it'. He said 'I don't want to upset you', and I was like 'If it gets us over the line and we get promoted, (I) don't care'."

Mark Howard has been praised by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to his reaction to Foster signing (Getty Images)

Howard's response drew immediate praise from Wrexham fans and their owners. Foster also hailed Howard's attitude, describing him as "proper" and saying: "That's a goalie's response."

"This is heart and soul," Reynolds wrote to his 21.2million Twitter followers, whilst McElhenney added: "These guys… this club… this town. Wow. @Wrexham_AFC".

Wrexham beat York 3-0 in Foster's first game back before a 5-1 win over Oldham Athletic at the weekend. They will now face Halifax Town on Friday before a huge title showdown with Notts County on Easter Monday (April 10).

Reynolds and McElhenney have pumped money into the Reds in a bid to reach the Football League and there were suspicions about the amount they may have paid Foster when his signed was announced. However, he quickly stated he is on "peanuts" as he outlined why he returned to the club where he was on loan when spotted by Manchester United back in 2005.

“I don’t need much [money]," Foster said on his podcast, 'The Fozcast Podcast'. "To be honest, the negotiations took about five minutes.

"Wages wise, it’s literally peanuts… the part for me is getting the team over the line and getting them promoted. I'm a very low maintenance player. Just wheel me out, I'll do a job."

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