Tom Hanks Rules Out Buying Aston Villa, Cites Economic Differences with Wrexham

Hollywood actor and dedicated Aston Villa fan Tom Hanks has ruled out the possibility of buying the club, citing economic differences with Wrexham AFC, which was purchased by fellow actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2020. Hanks, who has been spotted at Villa Park ahead of their match against Liverpool, acknowledged the financial challenges of football club ownership.

In an interview, Hanks stated, "I think Wrexham is a little bit different in the economic scale than Aston Villa. That's a little above my pay grade." The actor humorously added, "Aston Villa sounds like a lovely little place. It sounds like a spa... I thought Aston Villa, what a lovely vacation spot. Aston Villa. It's beautiful villa, you throw open the French doors, there's the beautiful port of Aston down below you."

Hanks first spoke of his support for Aston Villa in January 2008 at the premiere of his film Charlie Wilson's War in London. His friend and fellow actor Bob Stephenson is a Villa fan, and Hanks has appeared on red carpets waving a scarf in the club's colors. He has attended several Villa matches over the years, including a pre-season friendly at Portland Timbers in 2012 and a match against Liverpool in 2020.

Despite the financial challenges faced by Wrexham's owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, since their £2 million purchase of the club in 2020, they remain committed to creating a sustainable model for the club's future. The pair have taken a significant financial hit, with Wrexham losing £5 million in the year of their promotion from the National League and the club owing just under £9 million to their company, R&R McReynolds.

Reynolds and McElhenney have ambitious plans for Wrexham, including a potential stadium expansion from its current capacity of 12,600 to a massive 55,000. However, football finance expert Rob Wilson has warned that the estimated cost of the transformation, which could be in the hundreds of millions of pounds, could put the financial stability of the club at risk. Wilson suggests that securing a lucrative sponsorship deal and Premier League money would be necessary to fund such a project.

As for Hanks, he remains a passionate Aston Villa supporter, offering words of encouragement during the club's challenging times. In 2015, following Villa's relegation, Hanks shared a message to fans, saying, "This is a message to all the claret and blue. Hang on. There's not a club in the world that hasn't experienced this and there's not a club in the world that hasn't fought back. Aston Villa will see their destiny through. Hang on. Don't give up. Wear the scarves. Be proud."

Key Takeaways

• Tom Hanks rules out buying Aston Villa due to economic differences with Wrexham AFC.
• Hanks cites financial challenges of football club ownership, saying Villa is "above my pay grade."
• Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney remain committed to Wrexham despite £5 million loss.
• The actors plan to expand Wrexham's stadium to 55,000 capacity, but face financial risks.
• Hanks remains a passionate Aston Villa supporter, offering words of encouragement during tough times.