Josh Windass Transfer News. Credit: WrexhamAFC.co.uk
Josh Windass staying at Wrexham despite Rangers’ interest proves the club’s Championship project now rivals established names in appeal and ambition. The fact that a player with 73 appearances for Rangers is remaining in North Wales rather than returning to Ibrox shows how far Phil Parkinson’s side have come.
The power dynamic has shifted. What would have seemed unthinkable two years ago is now reality: Wrexham competing with Rangers for a player’s commitment and winning.
Wrexham sit 10th in the Championship table, just three points from the playoff places following their 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers. Rangers, meanwhile, are third in the Scottish Premiership but six points behind leaders Hearts.
The trajectory tells you everything. One club is pushing for promotion to the Premier League, the other is chasing domestic silverware in Scotland.
Wrexham’s decision shows playoff ambition is genuine
Windass has delivered six goals and three assists in 19 league appearances this season. Those numbers prove his importance to Wrexham’s top-six push.
Football Insider confirmed Wrexham have no plans to sell the 31-year-old midfielder in January despite Rangers’ tentative approach. The club signed him to a three-year contract running until 2028, and that foresight now protects them from exactly this scenario.
Wrexham hold all the power. Danny Rohl wants to bring Windass to Rangers, and the player previously described him as the best coach he has ever worked with. That pull is significant, but Wrexham’s refusal to sanction any move shows they understand what playoff challenges require.
Keeping your best players matters more than accommodating sentiment. Wrexham learned that lesson during their rise through the divisions, and they are applying it now when it matters most under Phil Parkinson.
“The best coach I’ve ever had by far.”
That is how Windass described Rohl in January 2024. The emotional connection is real, but so is the reality of what staying at Wrexham offers.
The opportunity at Wrexham outweighs Rangers nostalgia
Windass scored 19 goals in 73 appearances during his two years at Ibrox between 2016 and 2018. That history matters, but so does trajectory.
Wrexham are three points from Championship playoff contention with realistic Premier League ambitions. Rangers are six points off the pace in Scotland. The facts do not support a backward step, regardless of sentiment.
Embed from Getty ImagesWindass has captained Wrexham five times already this season, showing his importance to Parkinson’s structure. He joined the club as a free agent last summer after his departure from Sheffield Wednesday, and he has become central to their identity in the Championship.
Staying at Wrexham means remaining part of a genuine promotion push in English football’s second tier. That holds more weight than nostalgia or even working with a manager you rate highly, especially with financial decisions looming in January.
Football League World reported that Windass is seen as a key part of Parkinson’s side as they push for promotion to the Premier League this term. The Red Dragons have earned promotion in each of the last three campaigns, enjoying a meteoric rise up the English football pyramid.
Wrexham blocking this move is not just good business. It is confirmation they have reached a level where keeping players matters more than accommodating interest from bigger names. Windass staying proves the project is real, and the ambition matches the reality on the pitch.
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