Stafford manager Chris Brindley faces up to life without Wayne Daniel confident that he did everything within his power to persaude his skipper to stay.

In the end, all efforts were to no avail – the central defender is now a Worcester City player after rubber-stamping his move at the weekend.

But, even in leaving, the 32-year-old felt he was wanted by the club he spent seven seasons with, the Rangers boss even matching the type of offer on the table by offering Daniel a one-year contract.

In the end, the decision was down to the man himself and the popular captain decided it was time for a change.

Now the focus shifts on who will fill the breach, but the manager has time to pick a target before pre-season training starts next month.

But he knows the longest-serving player at the club will take some replacing.

Brindley said: “I did everything I could to keep Wayne. In the end, he just wanted a change by all accounts – there’s not much I could have done to change his mind.

“It’s a shame and he will take some replacing, a great player and a great servant to the club. We all appreciate what he did for this football club and wish him well in the future.

“But he has made his choice, he has left the club and now I have to look at replacing him.”