Kidderminster Harriers star makes shock exit after offer 'not of this level'

The 34-year-old has swapped National League North for National League South for an undisclosed fee after receiving an offer Harriers boss Adam Murray described as “not of this level”.

Hemmings, who joined the club in 2019, had agreed a deal to stay at Aggborough for another season after enjoying the best campaign of his career.

The former Wolves and Walsall ace plundered 34 goals on the way to being crowned National League North player of the season. 

But the offer from Dagenham proved too good to turn down.

Boss Murray explained: “It happened very quickly. Ash had a great season last season so the club was wary it would have offers and interest in him and, at the start of the summer, it didn’t come and we’d kind of thought we’d survived it.

“We had conversations and, Ash being Ash, I don’t think he slept for a couple of days because this place is really important to him. He has been here a long time and done great things, it has an emotional tie for him.

“Like us as a club, the deal they offered to Ash… I know what a good deal looks like at this level and the one they offered Ashley was not of this level.

“He had a good think about it and decided it was something he had to do.”

Murray, who replaced the axed Phil Brown as Harriers boss in May, is confident his team can cope with the loss of their talisman.

He continued: “We’re disappointed to lose Ash because he’s been a great player, but this is football.

“We move on, we thank him for everything he’s done here.

“He will be a miss, there’s no point lying about that, but I am really excited about what is coming in to take that slot and we’ll look forward to get cracking with that.”