Wrexham owners take Spygate jab at Southampton ahead of Championship clash

Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have poked fun at upcoming opponents Southampton in a social media video referencing last season's so-called "Spygate" controversy.

The two Championship sides meet at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday at 15:00 BST. Southampton were disqualified from last season's play-off final and hit with a four-point deduction after an intern was caught observing semi-final opponents Middlesbrough during training. Similar incidents were later uncovered involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town.

In the roughly one-minute clip posted on Wrexham's account on X, Reynolds appears stepping out from behind a tree, and alongside McElhenney delivers a mock promotion for shirt sponsor Firefox, joking about the importance of privacy and avoiding spies. The video specifically names Middlesbrough, Oxford and Ipswich, and closes with the pair looking at a phone supposedly showing footage of a Southampton pickleball team practising.

This is not the first time Wrexham have referenced the saga: when the club published its fixture list in June, the schedule for 17 September carried a note about checking the training ground, clarified as being for "unauthorised visitors."

Wrexham currently sit 19th in the table after seven matches, while Southampton are ninth with 10 points. In April, Southampton beat Wrexham 5-1 in their last visit to the Racecourse Ground and went on to secure a play-off spot.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said his side has accepted the EFL's ruling on the matter and is now focused solely on Saturday's fixture, following a 6-0 defeat to West Ham United in their previous game.