Exclusive interview: US-investor targets Stafford Rangers revival, inspired by Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham journey

A lengthy winless run has left Rangers inside the Northern One West relegation zone, once again testing the patience of a loyal fanbase.

But while performances have faltered, hope has arrived from across the Atlantic.

Inspired by the Hollywood-fuelled rise of Wrexham, US-based businessman George Bruneau has begun his own ambitious journey with Stafford Rangers - at a crucial moment in the club's history as they celebrate their 150th anniversary.

Bruneau, a 37-year-old financial investment professional from Dallas, Texas, has made an initial six-figure investment in the club, a figure he revealed to the Express & Star. And his stake is expected to grow over time, eventually making him a substantial shareholder.

"I am a huge fan of sports, but owning a team in the United States just was not realistic," Bruneau told the Express and Star.

"Welcome to Wrexham on Disney got really popular. The ability to take a team from non-league and then compete in Football League is an amazing story, and that drew a lot of interest.

"I made an anonymous post on a non-league Facebook page saying 'I'm looking to get involved - who wants some money?'

"The response was pretty shocking, people called me a scammer. But some did take it seriously, including Mark Alcock at Stafford."

What followed was a lengthy process that took more than a year to complete. Bruneau interviewed 10 to 12 clubs across the country, eventually narrowing it down to Stafford Rangers and another club in Cambridge.

"It came down to two," he explained. "It wasn't the board, Marston Road or anything else, but seeing the passion of the fans, even though the team has been in a downward spiral."

That passion was on full display when Bruneau and his family travelled more than 6,000 miles to attend their first Rangers match on New Year’s Day. A a 6-1 defeat to Nantwich Town did little to dampen his enthusiasm.

"It went down to the last day," he continued. "I went to go to hang out with the fans and it was really cool. When John Atherton scored, I was like 'this is awesome, this is home'.

"We won't talk about the rest of the match but the immediate feeling was pretty cool."

Once dubbed the 'Manchester United of non-league', FA Trophy winners and a dominant force in the 1970s, Rangers are now entering a new era.

But, Bruneau is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge ahead. While inspired by Wrexham's fairytale rise, he is keen to stress his ambitions are grounded in realism.

"Ryan Reynolds is a good looking guy, who wouldn't want to replicate what he's doing," the 37-year-old joked. 

"It's not going to be the same success. You should even be envious of what Hednesford Town have been doing.

"Their owner Craig Gwilt is an amazing human being - he helped point me in the direction of Stafford as part of my due diligence. 

"Wrexham and Hednesford are both examples of what want to compete with and match their success. It might just take a little longer."

While rivalry runs deep between the two clubs, Bruneau has openly admired Hednesford's recent progress, including promotion from Stafford's division last season and a current push for back-to-back success.

On the financial side, he believes Rangers are better placed than many might assume.

"I'm not some mega rich billionaire, but I've had some success," he said. "We made sure that our retirement is set, but wanted to get involved in sport and diversify. 

"Regardless of what people think, the financial situation at the club is actually pretty strong. That was part of the appeal to come on board as well."

Bruneau's role is currently advisory, but his involvement is expected to grow. He is also actively seeking other investors to join him on the journey.

He added: "I'm definitely not a majority shareholder at this moment. That is that is an ambition long term of mine, but not right now. I want to try and find other folks to come along with the ride with me.

"I don't care how I can use my time, as long as I'm allowed to have my time at work, because that's how we're going to continue making money to invest more into the club. But in the meantime, I will do whatever I can to help.

"If I ever come and realise that I'm not the right person or this isn't for me, I'll make sure to find a good steward to leave that with."

The wealth management consultant hopes to attend matches a few times a year, though work and family commitments will limit his visits.

He dreams of seeing Stafford enjoy a memorable FA Cup run, but improvements off the pitch are also high on his agenda - particularly the long-discussed installation of a 3G pitch, a divisive issue among supporters.

 "A 3G pitch is a must, but the location of that 3G is not set in stone," he said. 

"We need a 3G for revenue, to have somewhere to train, but that doesn't mean we can't find a facility and allow Marston Road to remain the club's home. Let's keep the 150 year history.

"We already get a lot of people for our level. I think we can improve that if we make the match day experience better."

Ultimately, Bruneau's focus is on progress - not quick fixes. The Dallas-based investor has already joked about bleeding black and white. 

"I'm excited about the process, about the challenge, nothing worth having comes easy," he said. 

"Hopefully at some point in time in the future, we can have a before and after George, and compare the success and it will be night and day.

"The immediate goal has to be get points. But once the quicksand stops and our feet are settled underground, there's no reason that the ambition shouldn't be insanely high.

"Outside of being a husband and a father, this is definitely going to be the most exciting thing I've done. 

"My message to the fans is thank you. Thank you for sticking with the team. Please have faith, it's not going to be a huge turnaround, it will take some time. 

"The fans are the reason why I love the club and I'm involved. Up the Boro!"