Zak Vyner: Heartbreak for Harambee Stars Defender as Premier League Dream is Shattered

Harambee Stars defender Zak Vyner might not have been involved but he is also feeling the full effects after his club Wrexham failed to seal a Premier League promotion playoff place.

Vyner had already been ruled out of the final match of the English Championship regular season away to Middlesbrough on Saturday due to a groin issue with doubts over whether he could make the playoffs.

However, he will not need to worry about being fit for the playoffs as Wrexham will not be fighting for a fourth straight promotion following a disappointing 2-2 draw with Boro which saw them finish the regular season in seventh place and out of the playoff race.

The Welsh club entered the final day of the Championship season with a chance to secure a playoff spot, but the combination of their draw and Hull City's 2-1 victory over Norwich City meant a fourth consecutive promotion was out of reach.

The match at Middlesbrough started poorly for Wrexham, who conceded just four minutes into the game. However, Josh Windass brought them level with a well-executed free kick in the 28th minute. The Red Dragons then took the lead thirteen minutes later through Sam Smith, only for their advantage to be short-lived. David Strelec equalised for the home side just two minutes later, sending the teams into halftime tied at 2-2.

Throughout a tense second half, Wrexham's position in the live table fluctuated, with Hull City and Derby County also vying for the final playoff places. After Derby fell behind in their match, the focus shifted to Hull, who took a decisive lead thanks to a 67th-minute penalty from Oliver McBurnie. This result pushed them ahead of Wrexham in the standings.

With Hull holding their lead, Wrexham needed a winning goal against Middlesbrough, but it never came. The final whistle confirmed that the club, which has gained global fame since its 2020 acquisition by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, will remain in the Championship for another season.

Wrexham made history last year by becoming the first English team to achieve three straight promotions. The club's revival began after the high-profile takeover, which led to the popular docuseries "Welcome to Wrexham" and a significant increase in revenue, allowing for substantial squad improvements.

After spending eight seasons in the National League, Wrexham secured the title in 2023 to earn their first promotion. They followed this incredible feat with consecutive second-place finishes in League Two and League One, climbing to the second tier of English football.

While Wrexham's journey ends here for now, Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough, and Hull City will advance to the playoffs, competing for the final promotion spot to the Premier League. Coventry City and Ipswich Town have already secured automatic promotion as the league's top two teams.