Mark Shaw disappointed to lose Tom Elliott but says midfielder earned National League North move

Tom Elliott is the latest Tigers star to leave the club for new, greener pastures.

The deal to take the midfielder to an as yet unnamed club, has been agreed but the paperwork is still to be completed.

Tigers will get an undisclosed fee, and a sell on clause.

Shaw has already had to watch the likes of Luke Shiels, Alex Pursehouse, Tom Burgin and Jake Scott leave Sandy Lane to ply their trade with teams higher up the pyramid.

Reacting to the latest exit, he said: “I wish him all the best, he’s been terrific for the last two years and a joy to help bring along.

“I’m absolutely disappointed to lose him, I think we’ve just sold one of the biggest pieces of the promotion cake, he’s difficult to replace.

“We’ve lost quite a few hard to replace players, but this one hurts a little bit more because we’ve built this player.”

Elliott has grown from an Under 19s player, and ‘pasta boy’ on the coach for senior players, to one of the first names on the teamsheet, and a player capable of running teams ragged.

This season he attracted the attention of Championship club Sheffield Wednesday, who took him on trial with their Under 21s for a number of matches, but no deal materialised.

The National League North club who have agreed to buy Elliott made a bid earlier in the season, which was rejected by Tigers.

Shaw said: “Players are going on to play football at a higher level.

“It’s just disappointing from my point of view that we haven’t got enough to keep these players for our long term project.

“But all the best to Tom, he’s come into the senior team and showed what a good player he is. He’s earned it.”