Wrexham’s controversial Irish star James McClean greets fans chanting ‘he hates the f***ing king’, weeks after Ryan Reynolds’ team invited Prince William to their stadium

Controversial Irish star James McClean greeted Wrexham fans by singing an anti-King chant, weeks after Prince William visited the club.

In early March, Prince William visited the grounds of Wrexham Racecourse to hear stories of the club’s rise since the 2021 takeover by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, and meet staff and players.

Following their 6-0 win over Forest Green Rovers at the weekend, the Welsh club’s promotion to League One was confirmed and fans celebrated with songs about all their players, including McClean.

In a clip posted on social media, Wrexham fans can clearly be heard chanting “he hates the f***** King”, in reference to the Irishman’s high-profile republican stance.

Prince William, President of the FA, received a personalized jersey from McElhenney and players Luke Young and Ben Tozer on the pitch at the Racecourse, as well as speaking with manager Phil Parkinson.

McClean was partying with Wrexham fans after securing promotion at the weekend

Prince William received a personalized Wrexham shirt at the racecourse last month.

The Prince of Wales also poured a pint and drank a whiskey with McElhenney at The Turf pub, next to the Wrexham ground.

Reynolds was in New York to edit the next Deadpool film during Prince William’s visit last month, but MailOnline understands he hopes to meet the second in line to the throne later in the year.

Speaking at Wrexham AFC, William said: “It’s a great achievement that you’re building here, everything you’ve started and achieved is fantastic, so to move forward and upwards – it’s exciting. “

“And anyone who is a true football fan wants to see you succeed.”

As the third oldest football club in the world, Wrexham’s history has fascinated a new generation of viewers around the world thanks to McElhenney and Reynolds, and the profiling of their ownership in the popular Disney+ documentary Welcome To Wrexham.

In the first episode of the show’s second season, The King delighted royal fans by making a subtle joke about It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia to McElhenney.

Charles and Camilla met club owners and actors Ryan Reynolds and McElhenney during a tour of Wrexham Stadium in December 2022, broadcast the following September.

McClean has proven to be a divisive figure in British football, and his stance against the Royals is just one of many things that has sparked debate.

Prince William speaks to Wrexham AFC manager Phil Parkinson at Wrexham

Wrexham secured promotion to League One after a thumping 6-0 win over Forest Green

Delighted fans ignored the club’s warning and invaded the pitch after the match.

Wrexham Football Club co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney welcome King Charles to Wrexham, Wales on December 9, 2022.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Actor Rob McElhenney stood alongside Queen Camilla during the visit last December

The Hollywood duo bought the club in November 2020 and Wrexham were promoted last year

While playing for Wigan Athletic, McClean called out the English FA for their failure to deal with anti-Irish abuse in the game after an incident at Blackpool.

The FA had previously investigated fans repeatedly singing anti-Pope and anti-IRA songs towards McClean.

In September 2023, McClean admitted to regret posting a controversial photo of himself in lockdown “joking” homeschooling his children with a balaclava, which was interpreted as a reference to IRA.

For this position, which was later axed, McClean was fined two weeks’ wages by Stoke City – his then club in March 2020.

McClean was criticized for turning his back while the national anthem played before a friendly match at West Brom in 2015.

The player said this was due to his affinity with Derry and the British Army’s role in the Troubles and Bloody Sunday.

He was also criticized for refusing to wear a poppy during matches played during Remembrance Weekend, a personal decision he made in 2012, but a stance which saw him booed a decade later.

He refuses to wear the poppy because the symbol commemorates those who died in war – not just those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

More soon…