JOSH WINDASS has paid an emotional farewell to Accrington Stanley ahead of his switch to Rangers this summer.

John Coleman’s side saw their League One dreams come to an end on Wednesday night as they were held to a 2-2 draw by AFA Wimbledon and beaten 3-2 on aggregate.

The semi-final defeat came just days after Accrington had an automatic promotion place snatched from their grasps in the dying minutes of the league campaign.

Windass had put the hosts ahead at the Wham Stadium but it was a cruel end to his time in Lancashire as Stanley couldn’t force a winner to set up a Wembley meeting with Plymouth Argyle.

The forward will make the move to Ibrox alongside team-mate Matt Crooks as the Light Blues gear up for a shot at the Premiership title next term.

And Windass was disappointed he couldn’t bow out on a high and head across the border having helped Coleman’s side reach the third tier of English football.

The 22-year-old took to Twitter and said: “Would like to say a final message to Accrington Stanley and everyone associated with the club, the players, the management, staff past and most of all present, the people behind the scenes.

“My time here has been amazing and set my career off. Gave me first team experience when nobody else was willing to take the chance.

“I’ve played with some amazing and under-rated players since I’ve been here and none more so than the current squad.

“I’ve won awards personally and improved my game vastly and that’s due to the staff and people here.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t top it off with promotion and end it on the ultimate high. It [was] maybe a shock to the public where we finished, but not us lads who had full belief from the start we could do it.

“I hope in the future you have another chance like this and go one step further. Once again, thanks for the success and the memories.”