Ex-Wigan player Stephen Humphrys explains his decision to decline a concrete offer from Wrexham, instead moving to Barnsley as a free agent.

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Wrexham were interested in Humphrys in JanuaryCame back a second time in MayHumphrys didn't want to leave Wigan at the timeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Humphrys, who was the starting striker for Wigan in League One last season, was given the opportunity to join Wrexham's exciting project after they offered him a contract in May, but he rejected it, as at the time he had his mind set on staying at the Lactics.

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Wrexham have made some significant signings over the past few season; Ben Foster, Jack Marriott and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson were all players capable of playing in higher leagues when they signed for the Welsh side, but they all signed on the dotted line to be part of a long-term project, something which very few players would willingly reject.

But for his own reason, Humphrys decided to reject the Hollywood backed offer, instead favoring to fight for his place at Wigan, something which in due course would fail to pan out.

WHAT HUMPHRYS SAID

Speaking to Wigan Today about the decision, Humphrys said: "At the time, Wrexham had come in for me, who were paying really good wages…and I still didn’t want to leave Wigan for Wrexham. I think they put an actual bid in for me, but I didn’t want to leave Wigan, so that was Wrexham off the table.

“There was another club, in Europe, who also came in with really good money on the table. Again, I said no, I said ‘let’s get this sorted here, I want to stay’. But God’s honest truth, there wasn’t another contract offer from that day forward.

“My position was always: ‘This is where I’m at, I’m turning down more money than I’ve been offered elsewhere, I’m more than happy to stay here for less money – not less than what I was on, but less than other clubs are offering’…because I wanted to stay.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR HUMPHREYS AND WREXHAM?

Wrexham seem to doing just fine without Humphrys in their ranks, as they lie third in League One, just four points from table toppers Wycombe Wanderers. They play Exeter on Saturday, in a game they go into as concrete favorites.

Humphrys, who has bagged four goals in 13 games for fellow League One side Barnsley, sees his side currently sit fifth, in comfortable contention for the promotion play-off spots.