WORCESTER City joint manager Lee Hughes admitted it was an “easy decision” to make loyal full-back Tyler Weir club captain this season.

Weir has made more than 200 appearances for City and is the only surviving member of last season’s first team squad.

Having had interest from National League clubs this summer, the 26-year-old had chances to leave after Worcester dropped three levels.

But the ex-Hereford United youngster, who first joined City on loan in 2012, agreed to take a “massive pay cut” to stay at the Midland League Premier Division outfit.

Hughes admitted Nathan Hayward, Brad Birch, Mark Smith and Shab Khan all had strong cases to wear the captain’s armband.

But he felt Weir’s ability and experience separated him from the rest when he and John Snape came to selecting a skipper.

“Tyler is the club captain,” said Hughes whose side defeated Daventry Town 1-0 to progress to the preliminary round of the FA Cup last Saturday.

“He leads by example.

“He has been at the club for so many years and has played a lot of games at a higher level than this and I think the lads look up to him.

“There are a lot of players who could captain the side like Nath, Birchy, Smithy and Shab.

“But as Tyler has played so many games and knows the club inside and out the lads will respect him, so it was quite an easy decision.”

Worcester-born Hayward also believes Ledbury-based Weir is the “right man” to lead the Blue and Whites.

“Tyler has got plenty of experience in non-league and he is a top class player,” said Hayward.

“So having him as captain is great and I believe it was the right decision. The likes of Hughesy and Matt Birley could be captain as they are very experienced players, but Tyler knows what he is doing and is the right man for the job."

Weir added "It's a big honour to captain the club.

"We've got some big characters in the team so when Snapper and Lee asked me to be captain I was buzzing, and will take it with both hands.

"I want to get the club back to where we belong.

"I've been here for four years now and the club means something to me. I don't like losing and I want the other lads to be the same, then we will be going places."

City begin their league campaign on Saturday (3pm) when they entertain Heanor Town at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground.