DAVID HODGSON last night rued his unsuccessful attempt to land Dean Windass as the difference between success and failure this season.

Quakers narrowly missed out on the play-offs at the weekend, when they were edged out on goal difference by Northampton, finishing eighth.

However, Hodgson believes the outcome of Quakers' season may have been different had Windass moved to the Williamson Motors Stadium 11 months ago.

Windass was close to joining Quakers after agreeing a two-year deal "in principle", before he was persuaded to remain at Bradford City under new boss Colin Todd.

Hodgson identified Windass as the man to spearhead Quakers' attack following top scorer Barry Conlon's move to Barnsley on a free transfer.

But Windass' U-turn would only be the beginning of a summer of discontent for Hodgson in his search for a striker.

Under the financial restraints of administration, Hodgson ran the rule over several free agents, but to no avail.

For the first eight games of the season defender Matt Clarke was called in as an emergency striker, alongside Craig Russell. During that period Quakers amassed just six goals as they languished in mid-table, before Craig Hignett and Alun Armstrong arrived in September.

After seeing Windass fire 28 goals for Bradford in League One this season, Hodgson can only reflect on what might have been.

"We were so close to getting to Dean and you just wonder how it might have turned out if he'd joined us at the beginning of the season," said Hodgson. "We didn't really have a recognised striker for the first few games and I think that has cost us in the end.

"I have no doubt that we would have been in the play-offs at least, had Dean signed for us."

And, with Alun Armstrong poised to join Colchester United in the coming weeks, Hodgson faces another summer search he hopes will bear fruit this time around.

Tomorrow the Quakers boss will speak to those players, whose contracts are up for renewal, and tell them whether or not they figure in his plans for next season.

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