Sean Cronin says he has left Wealdstone a fan after admitting the club got under his skin during a five-year stay which came to an end on Tuesday with a switch to Grays Athletic.

The centre-back spent the end of last season on loan with the Isthmian Premier Division side after finding himself down the pecking order at Grosvenor Vale. Now the Welsh defender has returned to Essex after being freed by the Stones.

And the former Neath and Cardiff City man says it was a decision taken with a heavy heart after an unforgettable time with Gordon Bartlett’s side.

“I joined as a player and leave as a fan – that is what Wealdstone does to you; it is a special club and that never leaves,” said Cronin.

“Leaving is bittersweet. I am happy to be joining Grays but said to be leaving a great club like Wealdstone. I have some wonderful memories – the FA Trophy run and winning the league at Margate to name two – so it is a club which will always be close to my heart.”

He continued: “It was definitely a difficult decision. Clubs like Wealdstone do not come along very often. It was a case of my head telling me to move and my heart telling me to stay. I will be 30 this season so I need to be playing – it was a risk I could not take. I finished last season at Grays so I know what I will be getting down there.”

And Cronin is backing Bartlett’s boys to make an impact in their second season in the National League South following a 12th-place finish in their first campaign following promotion.

“Obviously I had a couple of pre-season sessions already and the boys are looking really fit and there is a buzz about the place,” enthused Cronin.

“There is no reason why they can’t be pushing for the play-offs. If they can replicate that form they showed around Christmas and at the end of the season then there is no reason they should not be looking at the top five.”