I got off team bus for Rangers transfer exit - it was a bad decision
The forward, 31, left the Ibrox club in 2018 to join Wigan Athletic after his buyout clause was triggered.
Steven Gerrard had to inform the player of the transfer bid for his services, but was confident the player would not leave Rangers.
However, speaking on Open Goal, Windass has explained that as soon as he was informed of the transfer bid, he started driving to seal a move to the English side.
He said: "I had a nightmare. I don't want to go over it. They activated my buyout clause.
"He [Gerrard] came up to me and got me off the bus and told me, 'These have put a bid in for you.
"I have obviously got to tell you because you're not going to leave to go there...and then I left."
Windass had been in line to feature for Rangers against Maribor in the Europa League before his decision to leave for Wigan. Rangers would go on to win the match 3-1.
He continued: "I was about to start. It was Maribor in the Europa League.
"I didn't have an agent or anything. It was a bad decision.
"But I just went straight down the motorway.
Read more:
"[Rangers assistant] Mick Beale was texting me, saying you're making a mistake.
"I was 23, I wanted a bigger wage. I was stupid."
Despite the bizarre circumstances surrounding his exit, Windass was in talks with Gerrard over a loan back to the club.
"We had a zoom call about six months later because I was going to go back on loan in the January, Paul Cook wouldn't let me go," said Windass.
"Gerrard basically gave me what for. He told me everything that was wrong with me and how I can improve and stuff as a person.
"He said if we are going to bring you back, we need to have an honest conversation.
"I never went back anyway, and that was it.
"It's ages ago now, so I'm not that bothered by it now.
"But for two years after, I was thinking about it every day until I signed for Sheffield Wednesday."
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