LEIGHTON MCINTOSH believes his departure from Wrexham was “probably for the best”.

McIntosh’s spell at The Racecourse came to an end after just a year earlier this month, although the writing was on the wall for the striker when he was sent out on loan to National League North outfit Blyth Spartans in February.

And McIntosh wasn’t exactly surprise when Reds boss Dean Keates informed him that his services were no longer required in north Wales.

“The way the season panned out, finishing out on loan at Blyth, I knew it was coming,” said McIntosh of the call from Keates.

“It was probably for the best because all I want to do is play football and it’s been a topsy turvy season with different managers and players coming in and out.

“It’s been frustrating, but I will take positives from my time at Wrexham, which is a really good club and a big club.”

The main frustration for McIntosh is that he was unable to prove his worth at The Racecourse. The 27-year-old played just 277 minutes of National League action, starting once.

The last of those minutes came late on as Wrexham lost 3-2 at Fylde, a defeat which signalled the end of Bryan Hughes’ time as boss.

After that, McIntosh, signed from Airdrie was reduced to a brace of Scottish Challenge Cup starts, during which he scored twice, and a cameo as a late substitute against Rochdale in the FA Cup.

“I’ve always been the type of player that has needed to play consistently,” continued McIntosh. “I just wasn’t able to get that run at Wrexham, which was frustrating.

“I tried to do as much as I could in training and I gave a good account of myself in the Scottish Challenge Cup, but I just couldn’t get a run of matches.”

Despite being starved of game time, McIntosh, back in Scotland as he weighs up his next move, is glad he said yes when Wrexham and Hughes came calling last summer.

“I’ve had some great experiences,” said McIntosh. “Playing in the FA Cup was a highlight, as were the Wrexham fans and the atmosphere they generated at The Racecourse - that’s something I’ll never forget.

“Living in Wrexham and getting to know the town was great and I made some good friends from my time at the club, so I don’t look back on it too negatively at all.”

Given his frustrations during the 2019/20 campaign, what does the future hold for McIntosh?

“I am just looking for minutes and my focus is on signing for a club that fits that desire, because I feel fit and strong, added McIntosh.