Forfar boss Dick Campbell admits that while he is disappointed to lose Dale Hilson to Queen of the South, the player leaves the Loons with his best wishes.
The veteran manager was keen to keep the pacy front man who netted 12 goals in 38 appearances for the club last season and had offered him a deal to stay at Station Park.
However, the 22-year-old former Dundee United player has found the lure of a return to full-time football at Palmerston too strong to resist.
Hilson made over 100 appearances for Forfar during four loan spells from the Tangerines before signing a full contract with the Angus side following his release by United last summer.
Now that he will be plying his trade in the Championship next season, Campbell will turn his attention to other signing targets.
The manager said: “Dale has gone full-time with Queen of the South and I have no issues with that at all.
“We were obviously keen to keep him but he had offers from elsewhere and he had made no secret of the fact that he wanted to return to full-time football.
“He is a lovely lad and we wish him all the best in the future. He was great for us and still holds the record of playing over 100 games for Forfar while on loan from Dundee United.
“I will now focus my attentions elsewhere but I am determined not to dive into anything. My budget is nowhere near finished despite the fact I have 20 in already.
“I will look at loan options but nothing is imminent at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Craig Smith has signed a further one-year contract with Forfar and five of the club’s successful league winning development squad who were on amateur forms last season have been offered and accepted one year pro contracts.
Cameron Clark, Kerr Hay, Michael Kennedy, Jason King and James Yates will all put pen to paper within the week.