Wrexham A.F.C. Co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have poked fun at Southampton in a new online video spoofing a recent spying scandal. The Hollywood pair star in an advertisement for Firefox that directly references the controversy which saw Southampton expelled from a competition last season.

Wrexham, who sit 19th in the Championship with seven points from seven games, host ninth-placed Southampton this Saturday. The fixture is a rematch of a heavy 5-1 defeat for the Welsh side back in April.

Owners take a playful jab

In the clip, the two actors introduce themselves to the camera. He says he is Rob McElhenney, co-chairman of Wrexham AFC. Reynolds follows, stating, "I'm Ryan Reynolds, also co-chairman of Wrexham AFC. Today, for no particular reason, we want to talk about the importance of privacy."

The video is a clear nod to the 'Spygate' affair that implicated Southampton, Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough. A Southampton intern, William Salt, was caught filming a Middlesbrough training session ahead of a play-off semi-final. An independent panel later heard that Salt was acting on instructions from superiors, with WhatsApp messages showing praise for his efforts.

Context for the weekend

The light-hearted dig comes as Phil Parkinson's squad prepares for a tough test. Southampton's visit is a key fixture in Wrexham's fixtures as they look to climb away from the lower reaches of the standings. The team's recent form shows one win, one draw and three losses from their last five outings.

Several players remain unavailable for selection, including defenders Max Cleworth and Luke Cacace, and midfielders George Thomason and Oliver Rathbone. Their absence is a challenge for a side that has conceded 11 goals so far this season.

The match at the Racecourse Ground kicks off on Saturday, 19 September.

First reported at Daily Mail Sport

Manager Phil Parkinson addressed the Spygate spoof on 19 September, stating his focus is solely on the match. He told the press, "We're concentrating on what we've got to do and likewise they're the same." Wrexham, 19th with seven points, host Southampton this Saturday. The squad faces the challenge with several players currently sidelined, including Max Cleworth, George Thomason, and Luke Cacace.