Phil Jones spotted in Wrexham owners' box as club fall to 3-1 defeat by QPR
Former Manchester United defender sat behind owner Ryan Reynolds at the Racecourse Ground as Wrexham slipped to 21st in the Championship
Phil Jones, the former Manchester United defender, was photographed in the Wrexham owners' hospitality box alongside actor and co-owner Ryan Reynolds during the Welsh club's 3-1 home defeat to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
Wrexham slipped to 21st in the Championship after the result at the Racecourse Ground, their third loss in five league games this season. Supporters took notice when Jones, 33, was seen sitting immediately behind Reynolds as the Hollywood owner watched the match.
Jones left Manchester United in 2023 after 12 years with the club. He had joined United from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 for a reported £16.5 million and was part of the squad that secured Sir Alex Ferguson’s final Premier League title. Persistent injuries later limited his appearances, and he spent a season out of the game before announcing his retirement. At the start of the 2023-24 season he took up a coaching role within Manchester United’s academy.
Wrexham co-owners Reynolds and Rob McElhenney invested significantly in the squad over the summer, with reported spending of about £32.5 million on signings including Nathan Broadhead, Callum Doyle and former England international Conor Coady. The club’s rapid rise — three promotions from the National League up to the Championship — has been followed by a challenging start in the second tier.
Manager Phil Parkinson’s side now face a trip to Carrow Road to play Norwich City next Saturday, followed by a Carabao Cup tie against Reading three days later. The loss to QPR will increase pressure on Wrexham to find a response in a congested early-season schedule.
Jones’s appearance in the owners’ box drew attention from fans and media but there was no indication from the club that he had any official role with Wrexham. Wrexham’s ownership has been active in attending matches and engaging with the club’s development since Reynolds and McElhenney’s takeover, and the team’s early-season results will be watched closely as they seek to establish themselves in the Championship.