Wrexham AFC, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has publicly apologised after building a new pavilion at its Colliers Park training base without first obtaining planning permission. Wrexham Council's planning committee chair, Councillor Mike Morris, criticised the club for submitting a retrospective application, warning that its rapid rise up the football pyramid and recent on-pitch success were "no excuse" for bypassing proper procedure. The episode is an embarrassment for a club that has courted huge public attention through the Disney+ documentary series "Welcome to Wrexham" and its meteoric climb from non-league football towards the Premier League.

The application was only lodged with the council in August, by which point construction was almost complete, prompting accusations that the club acted first and sought permission later purely because it suited its off-season building schedule. Club chief executive Michael Williamson called the pavilion a "significant step forward" for Wrexham's promotion ambitions, while chief strategy officer Aidan Miller offered a "sincere apology", insisting the club had otherwise engaged fully with the planning process, including consultation on parking, highways and phosphate mitigation. Councillors have yet to vote on the retrospective application, with a decision expected once further reports are completed.