Tom Wraight will not be returning to Witham Town this season.

The 21-year-old left-sided midfielder has decided to make a move away from the Village Glass Stadium and has joined Ryman League premier division side East Thurrock United.

Witham manager Garry Kimble said Wraight, who had a trial period with Championship side Ipswich Town last season, would be missed but didn’t begrudge him wanting to play at a higher level.

Kimble said: “Tom has been a big player for us on the left of the pitch and gave us an aerial threat with good crosses into the box.

“But he has gone now and it’s a move that he deserves as he has done well.

“I’ve got no problem with him going as I’ll never stand in the way of a player wanting to play in a higher league so we wish him all the best at East Thurrock.

“It’s disappointing for us, but we’ll continue our preparations without him.

“I have Ryan Charles to slot in on that left-hand side and he did a very good job for us last year.”

Wraight joins skipper Paul King and central defender Lawrence Yiga as members of last year’s Witham squad that got relegated from the Ryman League premier division in making summer departures.