Wrexham have confirmed that director Humphrey Ker is to step down from the club's board and as a trustee of its foundation after five years with the Championship side.
Actor and comedian Ker played a key role in bringing co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to the club in 2021, inspiring the latter to pursue football club ownership before shortlisting Wrexham as a potential project. After Reynolds was recruited by McElhenney, the trio have overseen a stunning rise through the football pyramid as the club went from non-league to pushing for promotion to the top flight.
Now, however, the club have confirmed that the 43-year-old is stepping away from his roles, with a statement issued on Friday.
Club statement on Ker's departure
"Wrexham AFC confirm that Humphrey Ker is to step down from the board of Wrexham AFC and as a trustee of the Wrexham AFC Foundation after a highly successful five-year long association with the Club," the statement read.
"Humphrey played a crucial role in bringing Co-chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to the Club back in 2021 as it transitioned from the Wrexham Supporters Trust to the new ownership."
"He also featured throughout the Welcome to Wrexham documentary series, which has proved to be an incredible success and has helped elevate both the Club and the City of Wrexham to global recognition."
Ker's tribute and co-owners' response
Admitting that "watching from a distance" was the right move for him now, Ker said: "Working for and representing Wrexham AFC and the wider town has been the greatest honour of my life."
"I am proud of the part I have played in the Club's remarkable journey, both on and off the field. The way the Club has evolved and is now structured has made it progressively harder for me to make a positive contribution so, sad as I am to be leaving, I now feel watching from a distance is the right thing for me."
In a brief joint statement, Reynolds and McElhenney paid tribute to the 6ft 7in director and said: "Humphrey has been a key piece of the Wrexham story from day one and his kindness, humour and height will be missed but never forgotten."
Recent sporting director appointment
Ker's departure comes less than three weeks after Wrexham confirmed the appointment of former Newcastle United chief Steve Nickson as the club's new sporting director.
In a big statement of intent for the Welsh side, Nickson has been brought on board to work closely alongside head coach Phil Parkinson and his coaching team as they push for promotion to the Premier League this season.
The experienced Nickson spent 15 years on Tyneside and had served as head of recruitment since 2017, having previously spent 12 years at Blackburn Rovers.
