Josh Windass expresses confusion with the Spygate verdict and believes the Reds should’ve been given a promotion chance after Southampton’s expulsion from the playoffs.
The Spygate incident involving Southampton and Middlesbrough has been the most talked‑about topic in English football. While the final verdict was bound to create a stir, the EFL’s decision has affected many more Championship clubs than just the two directly involved.
After Southampton admitted to spying on opponents multiple times this season, the club were expelled from the playoff final and handed a four‑point deduction for next season. However, the ruling has also been indirectly harsh on other playoff contenders who might have qualified ahead of the Saints.
One of the primary parties affected by the Spygate incident has been Wrexham. Although Southampton have been removed from the playoff picture, the Red Dragons are far from being reinstated after finishing 7th and narrowly missing out on a playoff spot.
Wrexham forward Josh Windass recently took to Instagram to express his frustration with the resolution. The player wrote, “This Southampton story is one of the maddest I’ve seen. But why isn’t the play offs starting again with the 4 other teams? Boro v hull would of been the semi!! Confused”
Josh Windass raises valid re-playoffs point
Notably, Southampton weren’t just another competitor for Wrexham in the playoff race. The Saints sat 6th ahead of their key six‑pointer against the Reds on matchday 41, and their 5‑1 win at the Racecourse stretched the gap between the two sides.
If a decisive defeat wasn’t damaging enough, Wrexham also had to endure the humiliation of a 5‑1 loss in front of their own fans. While it’s only speculation whether Southampton used any unfair means that day, a different result could have completely changed the promotion picture for Wrexham.
Even if not for that specific result, Southampton’s expulsion should have seen Wrexham reinstated. Having finished just two points behind 6th‑placed Hull, the Reds deserved a re‑entry after the Saints’ disqualification.
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What’s even more intriguing is how different the playoffs would have looked. With Southampton expelled, Middlesbrough, Hull, and Wrexham could each have moved up one spot in the final standings.
That could have set up a playoff semi‑final between Middlesbrough and Hull, with the other finalist decided between Wrexham and Millwall. Given that Hull reached the final despite finishing 6th, there’s no way Wrexham wouldn’t have made it to Wembley if given the chance.
Can Wrexham still get a Premier League promotion?
In an ideal world, Southampton’s expulsion would have paved the way for Wrexham to have a shot at promotion. However, the sequence of events in the Spygate scandal and the EFL’s verdict have nearly eliminated that possibility.
First, the EFL reinstated Middlesbrough in a dramatic turn of events after their semi‑final defeat last week. Southampton are appealing the decision, but the EFL are unlikely to change the final again and create further chaos in an already troubled situation.
In such a case, asking them to restart the playoffs with Wrexham in place of Southampton would only worsen the dilemma, and the EFL are highly unlikely to act on the matter and begin the semi‑finals all over again.
Notably, what counts against Wrexham is that even if the EFL sympathise with their concern, the preparation demands and timing would be too much to ask for.
That’s because the 2026 World Cup kicks off in less than three weeks. With several called‑up players from the remaining Championship sides, asking for their availability for another couple of games in a delayed schedule would be unfair to the players.
Moreover, any such arrangement would go against Hull’s interests. They reached Wembley by fairly beating Millwall, and after already being kept in doubt over whether their opponent would be Southampton or Middlesbrough, restarting the playoffs would be unnecessarily harsh on the Tigers.
Overall, the 2025/26 Championship campaign looks destined to have a dramatic and unjust ending for many sides, including Wrexham. Though the Reds are suffering as a result of Southampton’s actions, it’s almost certain they will need to mount another promotion push next season to reach the Premier League.
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