Elon Musk has already made his feelings clear on copying Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and investing £262bn fortune in English football club

The owner of the ninth most popular social media platform has been encouraged to take over a football club in England but his feelings on the matter are already known.

Elon Musk is the world’s richest person, the hand at the tiller of the Free World and an all-round charmer, but his desire for global adoration and notoriety doesn’t extend as far as investing in an English football club.

Musk’s dazzling sense of humour reached its peak in 2022 when his “I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome” tweet was revealed to be a stinging one-liner and Musk clarified that he was not, in fact, buying Manchester United.

Football finance expert Dr Rob Wilson, a professor of Applied Sports Finance at Sheffield Hallam University, identified a surprising recommended purchase for the world’s richest man.

“If Elon Musk wants to get into football club ownership, Cheltenham Town are an extraordinarily interesting prospect, particularly to the US market,” Dr Wilson told OLBG.

“Millions of people in the US love British culture, particularly quintessential Middle England and the Cotswolds where Cheltenham is based.”

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan warned Manchester United off Musk, a sentiment that likely also applies to Cheltenham.

The Robins sit in 15th position in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of English football and a level above where Wrexham were taken over by Hollywood duo Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Musk has the clout to match the upward progress of the North Wales club but any Musk-fronted equivalent of Welcome to Wrexham would attract a rather different – and smaller – audience. He might want to be Iron Man but the real Deadpool knows a thing or two about content marketing.

Cheltenham are currently owned by Cayman Islands-registered CTFC Investments Ltd, Scottish businessmen Simon Keswick (the younger brother of former Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick) and the club’s supporters’ trust, and are chaired by employment solicitor David Bloxham. Keswick and CTFC Investments are understood to be willing to sell their shares, which total around 56% of the club.

The Robins would certainly benefit from some committed investment from outside and they could do worse than a big name from Tinseltown. Musk doesn’t have the storytelling chops to pull off a compelling documentary series about his ownership of a League Two club but he does have the requisite access to cash. As it stands, a U-turn on his previous U-turn would be necessary first.

Elon Musk has been urged to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney by purchasing a team in the EFL.

Hollywood stars Reynolds and McElhenney bought Wrexham in 2021 and have put massive money into the club and community, with their investment helping secure back-to-promotions from the National League to League One.

The incredible achievement under Phil Parkinson has been highlighted in the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary on Disney+ and the Red Dragons are hoping to make it a hat-trick of promotions as they currently sit second in the third tier.

US investment in clubs in the English football league has become increasingly popular and Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, has been urged to join the party.

The 53-year-old is set to be a member of Donald Trump’s cabinet, co-leading the ‘Department of Government Efficiency’, but he has never been involved in a sports team in any capacity.

However, football finance expert Dr Rob Wilson, believes he has the perfect suggestion for Musk. Wilson, the professor of Applied Sports Finance at Sheffield Hallam University, explained why Cheltenham Town, 15th in League Two, are an ideal fit for the South African.

“If Elon Musk wants to get into football club ownership, Cheltenham Town are an extraordinarily interesting prospect, particularly to the US market,” Dr Wilson told OLBG.

“Millions of people in the US love British culture, particularly quintessential Middle England and the Cotswolds where Cheltenham is based.

“You’ve got these beautiful rolling hills in the background, you’ve got the racecourse so there is a really powerful story and a powerful narrative at a club like Cheltenham. They are up and coming and could be a great prospect.”

Musk has previously hinted at getting involved with English football. In August 2022, he said he was looking to buy Manchester United.

He sent the internet into meltdown when he tweeted, “Also I’m buying Manchester United ur welcome”.

The Glazer family were looking at possible options and eventually ended up doing a deal whereby Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS became minority shareholders.

Confirming he was just playing around, Musk wrote: “No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I’m not buying any sports teams. Stand-up is my side-hustle.”