‘I’m not as handsome as Ryan Reynolds!’ - New Shrewsbury Town owner tackles Wrexham rivalry

New Shrewsbury Town owner Scott Davidson is ready to dive into local culture - including tackling Hollywood rivals Wrexham.

Miami-based Davidson completed the takeover of the Croud Meadow club from long-term chairman Roland Wycherley this week and met Town supporters on Thursday night.

Sitting with new sporting director Brad Friedel, part of the Biscayne ST consortium, Davidson admitted he is ready to research Shrewsbury’s historic rivalry across the border with Wrexham - whose own American dream has taken them from the National League to the Championship.

Davidson joked he is ‘not as handsome’ as Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds but, as and when the clubs lock horns, said there will be a determination to get one over the rivals.

“I made a joke to someone who asked me the difference between us and Wrexham and my answer was ‘I’m not nearly as handsome as Ryan Reynolds!’” Davidson said with a smile.

“There an interesting project and we’re super envious of some of the things they’ve been able to do from a revenue and regeneration perspective. But it’s a very, very different project.

“Ours starts from a football perspective, a football focus. We might know more about football but they know a lot more about marketing and a lot about how to add value, a lot of things we can learn from.

“So we can take things from them.”

But the new chairman stressed the importance and value of rivalries. He added: “What I don’t have - but I’m happy to be educated and that goes back to listening - is some great hatred or bias around rivalries.

“Rivalries are wonderful in the world. They are wonderful because when you have a local rival it makes you get better and want to beat them. What are they doing? What are we doing?

“Two great schools, near each other, why do they keep improving? Because they’re trying to beating the other person. I think having rivals is important. I personally don’t have the bias of remembering the terrible thing that happened in 1973 between the two fanbases.

“Healthy rivalries are good - you can educate me later on things I should know!”

Davidson added: “If do play Wrexham then my wife has already said she’s coming over for a match - why would that be?”

Former Premier League and United States international keeper Friedel is well-versed in English football and added: “When you have someone like Wrexham as a rival who is doing well - we’re also going to want to do well.

“If we ever get into a position to play them in the cup then we’re going to want a win, and so are they. We’ll know or that.”