Wrexham's celebrity co-owners have reignited the Spygate controversy with a pointed video mocking Southampton's conduct. The social media post came after Wrexham's 2-1 Championship win over Saints at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday, a result that leaves both clubs level on 10 points after eight games.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob MacElhenney released a promotional clip for their shirt sponsor on Thursday. In it, Reynolds opens with a wry statement. "Today, for no particular reason, we want to talk about the importance of privacy," he said. MacElhenney followed up, adding, "Specifically, how to prevent spies from seeing what you're doing." The video concludes with the pair looking at a smartphone screen purportedly showing Southampton's pickleball team practicing.

Social media dig

Wrexham's official account compounded the jab with a post on X that juxtaposed key dates. It referenced Southampton's 5-1 win in Wales last April, the club being caught spying on Middlesbrough in May, and this weekend's 2-1 defeat. The post, which included an image of Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier, amassed thousands of likes quickly. One user described it as "unreal s***housery," while another pleaded for the admin to stop.

The taunts extended to the matchday atmosphere, where home fans chanted, "You only win when you're spying." This stems from the serious sanctions Southampton faced last season. The club admitted to an intern observing Middlesbrough's training, with similar incidents involving Ipswich Town and Oxford United. The English Football League's investigation resulted in a four-point deduction and expulsion from the play-off final, a punishment that ultimately cost Saints promotion.

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert addressed the video after the match. He acknowledged seeing it but insisted it changed nothing. "You can imagine that the whole situation is not particularly funny for me, but I think that's all there is to say," Eckert stated. The EFL declined to comment, though BBC Sport was told senior figures felt the video was in poor taste.

On-field context

The 2-1 loss itself was a bitter pill, sealed by a late own goal from Keven Schlotterbeck. James Ward-Prowse had equalised for Southampton after Kieffer Moore's opener. The result halted a positive run of form for Saints, who had taken seven points from their previous three games. They now sit 13th in the Championship table, with top scorer Cyle Larin having netted seven times this campaign.

Attention turns to the south coast derby after the international break. Southampton host Portsmouth at St Mary's on October 11, a fixture that always carries significant weight.

This story first appeared at Daily Mirror Football