‘I was done’ – Why Lee Gregory ran off alone as Sheffield Wednesday man makes contract admission

The job was done, Windass’ header would prove to be the last touch of the game, and the Owls’ number nine just didn’t have the energy to make it over to celebrate with the teammate that he’d just set up for a famous winner.

It was his 40th goal contribution in Wednesday colours, and undoubtedly his most memorable. But after 120 minutes in the sun under the arch, he ‘was done’.

“I’ll be honest, it was an emotional drain - I was just thankful,” he told The Star afterwards. “I saw Josh run all the way over there and I thought, ‘I can’t be arsed, it’s too far!’ I was emotionally and physically gone, so thank God it was the last kick of the game. I was done.

“It was all a big sigh of relief, especially with the way that the game went. It almost went to pens, but thankfully it didn’t and we go the win!”

The win meant that Wednesday will be playing in the Championship next season, that much is certain, but – for now at least – there are no guarantees surrounding the man that set up their Wembley winner.

For the man himself, though, he’s got no doubts about where he wants to be.

"I would love to stay,” he told the media. “I love it here. Unfortunately, it's not up to me. If it was then I'd have been signed ages ago. Hopefully I can get something sorted – so we'll see."

Gregory picked up 17 goals and assists in 2022/23 as he helped the Owls on the way to promotion, including one of each in the play-offs to seal the deal, and has become a hue crowd favourite in his home city since making the move from Stoke City in 2021.

Wednesday do have an option on Gregory’s deal to extend by a further year, but as things stand there has been no confirmation as to whether it will be exercised or not.

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