Barry Bannan responds as Josh Windass shares heartfelt message following Wrexham’s play-off miss

Wrexham A.F.C. forward Josh Windass has shared an emotional message after his side narrowly missed out on the Championship play-off places.

Phil Parkinson’s team were held to a 2-2 draw by Middlesbrough F.C. on the final day, a result that proved costly as Hull City A.F.C. secured a 2-1 win over Norwich City F.C. to edge into the top six instead.

Windass, who joined Wrexham from Sheffield Wednesday last summer following the financial turmoil under Dejphon Chansiri, has been a standout performer this season. The 32-year-old contributed 16 goals and five assists across 41 league appearances, playing a key role in the club’s push for back-to-back promotions.

Despite those efforts, Wrexham finished seventh, just outside the play-off spots. Taking to social media after the final whistle, Windass admitted it was one of the toughest moments of his career, expressing pride in his teammates while acknowledging the disappointment would linger.

His former teammate Barry Bannan—now at Millwall F.C.—offered words of encouragement, praising Windass’ season and urging him to stay positive.

The match itself saw Wrexham fight back after falling behind to an early goal, with Windass and Sam Smith turning the game around. However, Middlesbrough responded before the break to level the score, leaving Wrexham with only a point—ultimately not enough to secure a play-off berth.

Elsewhere, Bannan played a key role in Millwall’s 2-0 victory over Oxford United F.C., though his side also fell just short of automatic promotion and will now compete in the play-offs.

While Wrexham’s immediate reaction is one of frustration, their rapid rise through the divisions remains remarkable. Missing out this time may ultimately allow the squad more time to strengthen before making a future push toward the Premier League.