MANAGER Carl Heeley has admitted the departure of full-back George Williams will be ‘a big loss’ to his Worcester City side.
The talented defender was snapped up by League One outfit Barnsley last week for an undisclosed fee and put pen to paper on an 18-month contract.
Heeley said he was pleased the former MK Dons youngster had made the step to full-time football, but added the 21-year-old’s boots would be big ones to fill.
“George will be a big loss to this football club,” Heeley said. “But we are a Conference North team and the lad has moved into the full-time game.
“It is every school boys dream to be a pro footballer and that has come true for him and we have played a part in that, particularly the work Matt (Gardiner) does in the development side. He has come on in leaps and bounds and deservedly got his move.”
Since the departure, Tyler Weir has filled the right-back void with Shabir Khan and Danny Jackman slotting in at left back.
But despite the versatility of his squad, the Blue and Whites boss said he would be looking for a replacement for last season’s players’ player and supporters’ player of the year.
“We will certainly look to replace him if we can,” Heeley added. “A big part of us is the attacking threat we posed with George and Tyler (Weir) bombing on and we have now probably lost that a little bit.
“Shab’s (Khan) had a lot of injuries and his body is feeling it so it would be too much to ask for him to be the regular left back from now to the end of the season, but he is a good player and good to have in the squad.
“George goes with our best wishes as he has been a great player for this club and I hope he kicks on and I think he will go again from Barnsley as I think he will play at a higher level than that.”