Josh Windass reacts to Southampton's play-off axe - he wants Wrexham u-turn from EFL | OneFootball

Josh Windass of Wrexham has urged the EFL to start the play-offs again, including for Hull City and Middlesbrough, following Southampton scandal...

As it stands, Southampton have been kicked out of the play-off final against Hull City. Middlesbrough are taking their place but do Wrexham and Millwall have reason to feel aggrieved?

Had Southampton not made the play-offs, or been found guilty and removed sooner, then the two semi-finals would have seen Millwall face Wrexham and Hull City would have played Middlesbrough for a place at Wembley.

In the end, despite Southampton winning 2-1 on aggregate, Millwall lost to Hull 2-0 at The Den. That set up Southampton against the Tigers, but Wrexham fans will feel they have a case to have made the play-offs had the Saints been found guilty sooner.

The final is the most expensive game in football, with the winner achieving promotion to the Premier League. It can generate hundreds of millions through broadcasting, sponsorship, and commercial growth. That is why so much is at stake for these clubs.

Wrexham's Josh Windass reacts to EFL's Spygate decision with Southampton

Hull are already considering action against Southampton, but other clubs also have a right to be very frustrated. For example, Sam Smith and Josh Windass helped Wrexham to a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on the final day of the season.

That saw Wrexham end the season in seventh, missing out on a fourth promotion in succession after flying up the leagues from the National League. They ended up just two points outside the play-offs.

In fact, one of the goalscorers that day was Windass, and he has had his say on Instagram. The forward has urged the EFL to reconsider the situation beyond just reinstating Middlesbrough into the play-offs to face Hull in the final.

He said: "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."

The Wrexham forward signed from Sheffield Wednesday last summer and bagged 17 goals and six assists in 46 games in all competitions. He and other teammates may well be winding down currently, but he would surely love to add to his tally via more play-off games.

The EFL have made the most logical decision with Southampton and Spygate

Now Southampton are removed from the play-offs following proven wrongdoing, the EFL allowing Middlesbrough into the final is arguably the most sensible form of damage limitation available. Southampton’s actions should impact Southampton alone, alongside the team directly affected by the alleged misconduct, rather than creating wider chaos across the division.

Restarting the entire play-off process simply would not be practical or fair. Clubs outside the top six, such as Wrexham, completed a full 46-game season without earning a play-off place, so retroactively bringing them into the equation would create even more controversy and uncertainty.

Middlesbrough at least competed directly against Southampton and lost under potentially compromised circumstances. From the EFL’s perspective, reinstating them into the final therefore represents the cleanest and most proportionate solution available.

It's a difficult pill for Wrexham and co. to swallow, but it would also impact Hull and their hard work to make the final over Millwall. Those players deserve that moment at Wembley. That is why the current solution has to be considered as the best one, although there may be more twists and turns yet to come.