The spying scandal continues to cast a shadow over Southampton as Reynolds and Wrexham keep piling on.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have joined in the growing banter surrounding Southampton’s “Spygate” scandal, producing a tongue-in-cheek social media video ahead of Wrexham’s Championship meeting with the Saints.

Wrexham welcome Southampton to the Racecourse Ground on Saturday, with both clubs looking to strengthen their positions. However, before the two sides meet on the pitch, Wrexham’s famous Hollywood owners have ensured that there is plenty of attention away from the football itself.

Reynolds and McElhenney used a promotional video for Wrexham’s shirt sponsor, Firefox, to take aim at the controversy that surrounded Southampton last season. The skit referenced the spying allegations that had major consequences for the Saints last season.

Reynolds and McElhenney poke fun at Southampton ‘Spygate’ scandal
Reynolds and McElhenney have poked fun at Southampton

Southampton were removed from last season’s play-off final and handed a four-point deduction after an intern was discovered watching Middlesbrough’s training session before the clubs were due to meet in the semi-finals. Further incidents involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town had also emerged earlier in the season, adding to the controversy surrounding the practice.

The incident became known as “Spygate”, and the subject has followed Southampton into the new campaign. With Wrexham preparing to host them, Reynolds and McElhenney saw an opportunity to revive the story in typically humorous fashion.

In a video shared on Wrexham’s official X account, Reynolds can be seen emerging from behind a tree. The scene deliberately resembles photographs that were published during the original Southampton spying controversy.

The clip was created to promote Firefox while simultaneously poking fun at Southampton. Reynolds begins by talking about the importance of privacy, telling viewers that there is no particular reason for the discussion. McElhenney then takes the joke further by focusing specifically on preventing spies from observing what a football club is doing.

The pair continue the comedy by discussing internet privacy and Reynolds jokingly mentions searching for information about “how to run a football club”. Their comments then become more pointed as they reference Middlesbrough, Oxford and Ipswich, the clubs associated with the earlier spying incidents.

Reynolds eventually concludes the sketch by praising an organisation that respects privacy. The video then shows both Wrexham owners looking at a smartphone. The screen is presented as though it contains footage or information relating to a Southampton pickleball team training session, providing one final joke connected to the spying theme.

The timing of the video makes the rivalry entertaining. Southampton’s visit to the Racecourse is one of the headline fixtures of the weekend, and Wrexham have clearly decided to embrace the attention generated by the unusual circumstances surrounding their opponents.

Tonda Eckert’s team were expelled from the play-offs last season over ‘Spygate’ (PA)

Wrexham had already teased Southampton during pre-season. After it was confirmed that the Saints would be Wrexham’s final opponents before the next international break, the club posted details of the fixture with a spy emoji. The joke included a calendar reminder to “Check Training Ground” for unauthorised visitors before the match.

That post established the tone for Saturday’s encounter, and the latest video shows Wrexham have no intention of letting the Spygate references disappear.

The Saints themselves will have to put the off-field jokes to one side when the teams meet on Saturday afternoon at the Racecourse Ground. Southampton began the Championship campaign with a four-point deduction but have managed to move into the upper half of the standings despite that difficult starting position.

After seven matches, Southampton sit ninth with 10 points. Wrexham, meanwhile, are 19th after the same number of fixtures. The difference in the table means Southampton will arrive in Wales looking to continue their progress, while Wrexham will be searching for a result that can help them climb away from the lower reaches of the division.

The Spygate controversy has already provided Southampton with an unusual amount of attention this season. The latest Wrexham video adds another chapter, although this time the focus is on humour rather than disciplinary consequences.

The jokes have not been limited to Wrexham. Southampton’s opening fixture of the campaign came away at Watford, and supporters of the home side also used the spying controversy to tease the visitors.

The matchday atmosphere included references to Southampton’s past problems, with even Watford’s mascot appearing to get involved. Before the game, the mascot was positioned behind one of the goalposts and made a binocular gesture, creating another visual joke aimed at Eckert’s team.

Those incidents demonstrate how widely the story has travelled within English football. What began as an internal training-ground controversy became a disciplinary matter, then developed into a recurring source of football banter whenever Southampton appear.

For Wrexham, the opportunity is obvious because the club’s owners combine football promotion with entertainment and social media humour. Reynolds and McElhenney have regularly used the club’s online platforms to engage supporters and generate attention around fixtures, and the Southampton match has provided them with an easy subject for another comedy sketch.

The latest video also fits naturally with the partnership with Firefox, allowing the club to advertise privacy while connecting the product message to a football story familiar to supporters.

Southampton will be hoping that the discussion surrounding Spygate does not become the defining feature of their trip to Wales. Their focus will instead be on collecting points and continuing to recover from the punishment imposed before the season began.

Wrexham, however, have clearly decided that there is no harm in enjoying the joke before kick-off. The owners’ latest effort ensures that the visitors will arrive at the Racecourse with the old spying controversy firmly back in the spotlight.

Once the whistle goes, attention will inevitably turn to the Championship contest itself. Until then, Reynolds and McElhenney have made sure that Southampton’s visit is accompanied by another reminder of the saga that has already followed the club from last season into the current campaign.

For supporters, the social media exchange adds intrigue to a significant fixture. Wrexham need points to improve their league position, while Southampton are attempting to build momentum after overcoming their initial deduction. The jokes may dominate the build-up, but the result will ultimately be decided on the pitch.