I used to be a Premier League manager, now I work with Wrexham and look to turn footy investors into new Ryan Reynolds
FORMER Charlton Athletic manager Les Reed has turned his attention to Hollywood over 15 years after his time in the Premier League came to an end.
Reed is now a consultant to Wrexham’s big shot owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
The 71-year-old spent just one month in charge of Charlton back in the 2006/07 campaign – a season in which the club was relegated – and was sacked after winning just one of his eight games at the helm.
However, away from his forgettable 41-day stretch as The Addicks boss, Reed has held some impressive roles throughout his career.
The former coach was the vice-president at Southampton during a period of success in the Premier League and also held the role as a FA’s technical director between 2002 and 2004.
Now though he is focused on the job at hand with Wrexham where he helps Reynolds and McElhenney continue to grow the once-sleeping giant in Wales.
Lee, who fulfils the role as part of his business advising potential or actual investors in elite sport, said: “I try to get people to understand what they are buying, rather than simply doing due diligence on the business side.
“There’s a slightly different thing here [in UK sport] called jeopardy because of relegation.
“There’s a sporting element to this business that everyone starts from the same point and is trying to beat each other every week. Otherwise it wouldn’t be exciting.
“The fun element of running a football club also relies on the ability to run it properly as a business and to get results — because if you’re losing football matches and/or money, it’s not fun.”
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Wrexham are certainly having fun as they sealed successive promotions this season to earn a spot in League One from next year.
And their stunning rise, which has been well documented by their Disney+ series, has seen other A-list stars turn their attention to English football.
NFL superstar, Tom Brady, became chair of a new advisory board as part of the new regime at Birmingham City last August.
Fellow NFL legend JJ Watt and wife Kealia, a former US national team soccer player, have attended matches at Turf Moor as Burnley co-owners.
While Bournemouth announced in January actor Michael B Jordan, a minority shareholder, was designing a new kit for the club.
And just last week it was announced that actor Will Ferrell had invested in Leeds United.
Reed explained that sometimes the big Hollywood name can be just as important as the football club when it comes to finding “the next Wrexham”.
He said: “What I get asked by potential clients is, ‘Where’s the next Wrexham?’
“And what I try to say to them is the ‘next Wrexham’ also means where is the next Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds?
“It’s the combination of Wrexham’s culture, history and tradition, its uniqueness as a Welsh club in an English league.
“With celebrities who understand all that and have got close to the community. They are not round every corner.”
