Just when it looked like Gary Waddock would start pre-season training with all the heroes he wanted from last season’s title-winning side, Joel Grant has been snapped up by League One side Crewe Alexandra.

Grant, the 20-year-old left winger, had recently signed a one-year contract with the Shots, but has chosen to head north to Dario Gradi’s Crewe, a club famous for nurturing young talent, with the likes of  David Platt and, more recently, Danny Murphy and Dean Ashton, making top flight and international football via Gresty Road.

Grant has signed a three-year deal at Crewe, with Aldershot receiving £130,000, a record fee, breaking the amount Queens Park Rangers paid for Adam Miller in 2004.

While Waddock was disappointed to lose Grant who, on his day last season, terrorised Conference defences with his pace and trickery, he said it was a good deal for all parties involved.

“There has been interest from Crewe in Joel for a while and it has now come to a head,” said Waddock. “He is a fantastic player and one I rate very highly.
 
“But this is another step for him, to a higher league and, with Crewe’s reputation for bringing through young players, Crewe is the best club he could be at, apart from ours.

“You cannot stand in a player’s way and Joel has made the decision to go and I would not want any negativity at the club. It is always best to be honest about these things. We will miss him as he is talented and a crowd pleaser. We wish him well.”

If Grant had not signed a contract with the Shots they might well have lost him for a much smaller nominated fee, so £130,000 represents a good deal given that they snapped him up for nothing after he had been released by Watford last season.

“Both parties are very happy and the club benefits. Joel was only on a year’s contract, so it’s a good deal, we have generated some cash, which is healthy for the club,” said Waddock.

The Shots’ boss said he still needed to speak to chairman John McGinty as to whether he will be able to use some or all of the money on new players. The likelihood is that some money will be made available.

“I still need to bring in two or three players,” said Waddock. “But we have a good group as it is. Dean Howell can play wide on the left and so can players like Kirk Hudson, or even Scott Donnelly. The left is not an immediate concern.”
Waddock is still expected to bring in a new right back and now possibly two midfielders.

In all, Grant, an U20 Jamaica international, made 61 appearances for the Shots in two spells, scoring ten goals.

While he was sometimes guilty of drifting out of games, he also offered the Shots skills unrivalled at Conference level and he may well have excelled all the more in a higher league. Crewe certainly think so.

But Waddock has been quick to look ahead: “We will miss him. But you move on straight away.”