PAUL RUTHERFORD will be "forever grateful" that he got the chance to play for Wrexham and says it was "a privilege and an honour to represent the club".

The 33-year-old midfielder arrived at The Racecourse in the summer of 2016 and made nearly 200 league appearances in five seasons before he was released at the end of the 2020-21 campaign after the Reds failed to secure a play-off spot.

Wrexham drew 1-1 at Dagenham and Redbridge on the final day and missed out on a top-seven finish, with Rutherford sent off just 11 minutes after coming on as substitute.

Rutherford was gutted he was shown a red card following a late challenge but wants supporters to remember him as a player who have everything for the cause.

"I took it quite badly," Rutherford said about his dismissal. "It really upset me and I was gutted; it felt like I had let the manager down, let the lads down and let the fans down.

"Since then, I have put a little bit of context on it and realised that it wasn't just down to me that we failed to make the play-offs.

"To be fair, the lads got better when I came off! You just have to move on, there is no point dwelling on the moment.

"I have got another 190-odd games people can reference and I would like to think people will see the quality I brought at times, and the endeavour, commitment and desire.

"When I look back on my time with Wrexham, I would like to think the fans and people at the club who have worked alongside me know that I put everything into the club.

"I put my heart and soul into it, I worked tirelessly every day and every time I got my opportunity on the pitch because it was a privilege and an honour to represent the club.

"I am forever grateful for the opportunity that the club gave me and that my family got to see me playing in a proper environment."

Rutherford got the dreaded news that he was not being offered a new contract while his wife was about to give birth.

"It was bittersweet getting bad news that your contract isn't going to be renewed whilst you are in the maternity ward with your wife," said Rutherford.

"The flip side of that is we were about to have our third son.

"There is no good time to receive that call and they were not to know the situation we were in; you just have to take it on the chin and crack on.

"I had a good little spell in the side and contributed to our push for the play-offs at the back end of the season, it was just disappointing for myself and the team how it finished."

Rutherford had spells with Southport, Barrow and Chester City before he was recruited by Gary Mills.

His time at Wrexham has ended but Rutherford is just happy he got the opportunity to wear the red shirt.

"Secretary Geraint Parry has been there a long time, he has been the heart and soul of the club," said Rutherford.

"Cerys does an incredible job with the Junior Dragons, Kerry has been incredible with her disability role.

"The fanbase is incredible, the community is what makes the club so special.

"It has been a unique experience for me and something I am really proud of.

"I have met some great people and I was proud to represent the football club."

There is one regret as Rutherford failed to help Wrexham clinch promotion back to the Football League.

"Ultimately we failed in our objective but it wasn't through a lack of effort or desire," added Rutherford.

"It was circumstances and that little bit of quality.

"I want nothing but the best for the club, I want them to go and play at the level that the fanbase deserves."