STOURPORT Swifts skipper Jamie Willets admitted it was a ‘heart breaking” decision to join Hereford FC.

The 23-year-old centre-back has left Swifts after six years at Walshes Meadow.

Willets caught Hereford’s attention when he starred in Stourport’s 2-0 league win against the Bulls last month.

He scored in Swifts’ 1-0 win over Alvechurch in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday and was influential in the club’s impressive start of the season.

Willets will join up with the Hereford squad for training today and be available for their league trip to Heanor on Saturday.

The defender said he was attracted to Edgar Street by manager Peter Beadle’s offer to improve his game and the ambitions of the newly-formed club.

But Willets said: “It is heartbreaking to leave Stourport, a club I will always love and had great memories of for the past six years.

“They will no doubt have a great half-a-season without me and I wish all the boys the best.

“But I couldn’t turn down the chance to play for Hereford — a challenge I’m relishing.”

Beadle said: “We’re delighted Jamie’s agreed to come. It’s taken well over a week, we’ve done things properly as best we can.

“Jamie wanted to come in and speak to me personally. We’ve done that and spoken about what his ambitions are and what our ambitions are.

“One of the things that caught our eye is his leadership qualities.

He’s a big, dominant centre-half and mobile but he’s very commanding and his communication skills are very good.

“He’s a player who can move forward with us and progress. He’s not just a stop-gap until the end of the season.

"He’s one who we would like to think can be a centre-half with us here for a number of years to come.”

Willets continued: “I’m a no-nonsense player, win my headers and my tackles and if I can play, then I play it simple.

“I’m so impressed with the facilities, with the ice-baths and the way the players get treated. It’s absolutely unbelievable.

“It’s going to be a whole new situation for me. I’m really looking forward to it, I’m so impressed, it’s very professional.”

Willets admitted it was a hard decision to leave Swifts.

“I’ve got a lot of good friends there and it’s been a really hard decision to leave the club for a team in the same league,” he said.

“I’ve got to be selfish on this one because I feel this club can help me kick on in my career.”

A Swifts spokesman said: “Jamie has been outstanding this season and we wish him well with his new team.”