The truth behind Robbie Williams’ bid to be the next Ryan Reynolds-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Robbie Williams was reportedly eyeing up buying a football club (Picture: TIM KILDEBORG JENSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

Rumours had been swirling that Robbie Williams was planning on following in Ryan Reynolds’ footsteps by purchasing a football club.

The Deadpool actor, 47, famously snapped up Welsh team Wrexham AFC along with fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney and turned their bid to reach the Premier League into a Disney Plus documentary.

Recent reports had claimed the Angel singer, 49, was set to enter a bid to buy his beloved Port Vale football club, having been a lifelong fan of the team in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, where he was raised.

However, Port Vale, which is owned by businesswoman Carol Shanahan, has now rubbished the speculation Robbie was about to buy the club in a statement.

It reads: ‘We are aware of the “exclusive” news that appeared in several national news outlets overnight and want to clarify the following:

‘Robbie Williams has not made a bid to purchase Port Vale Football Club and there have been no conversations regarding that happening.

Robbie attended a Port Vale match over the weekend (Picture: Getty)

Robbie has been a lifelong fan of the team having grown up in the area (Picture: Getty Images)

Robbie with his wife Ayda, with whom he shares four children (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Robbie and his team attended the match this past weekend, where he became club president and opened the suite that is now named after him.

‘There are a number of positive club projects that both Carol and Robbie are exploring with the intention of anything delivered being in the best interests of Port Vale Football Club.

‘As owners of the club, the Shanahan family remain fully committed to Port Vale FC.’

Ryan is often seen supporting his team Wrexham (Picture: Paul Greenwood/Shutterstock)

Ryan bought the club with fellow Hollywood star Rob (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

It had been previously claimed the former Take That singer had been backed by a consortium to take over the League One side, with a potential TV spin-off attached to the project.

A source told The Sun: ‘It’s really early days, but Robbie’s been formally approached to see if he’s interested in fronting a bid.

‘Port Vale remains one of (Robbie’s) greatest loves, and it’s always been a dream to be more involved. He’s had a couple of meetings, and his backers are incredibly excited.

‘They feel Robbie would add the star quality, and make Port Vale a major player.’

Robbie, who co-created the Soccer Aid charity football matches, played for his beloved club at Vale Park in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, in a 2001 testimonial, and later helped design their shirts.

He also founded his US-based football team in 2005 called Los Angeles Vale.

Football fanatic Robbie was previously quoted by The Sun saying in the US about actor Ryan’s investment in the Wrexham football club: ‘The Ryan Reynolds thing is intoxicating. It’s a beautiful story. It’s fascinating. It’s a fairytale.

‘I’d like to be involved in something like that. My big love in football is Port Vale, a very small team in the UK, so somewhere down the line I’ll have something to do with it.

Metro.co.uk has contacted Robbie’s reps for comment.

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