Comment on Bohan Dixon's departure from Warrington Town

It is a move that makes sense for a few reasons, but there will also be feelings of confusion and frustration as another long-serving player heads through the exit door and that another of their stars has been tempted away by the riches on offer at Macclesfield following Luke Duffy’s move to the Silkmen in August.

> FULL STORY: Yellows midfielder departs after fee agreed with Macclesfield

With Mitch Duggan having moved on last week albeit in entirely different circumstances, Dixon’s departure means a combined 397 Warrington Town appearances have left the building in the space of a few days and from an on-field point of view, it is two players removed from an already small squad.

And while the enigmatic midfielder often polarised opinion among the fanbase, it cannot be denied that he was considered a key cog in the machine both on and off the field and has contributed hugely to a golden era at Cantilever Park.

Celebrating his goal against Matlock Town in last season's play-off semi-final (Image: Sean Walsh)

There are few players that can combine power and elegance like he can – enough height, strength and speed to cope with the physical side of the game and make driving runs through midfield while also maintaining the ability to carve open defences with his range of passing.

Plenty will argue that he did not show that complete skillset consistently enough but when he was on song, Dixon was truly unstoppable and a joy to watch.

He also leaves at a time where he had been in good form – he had formed a midfield partnership with Sean Williams that was operating well enough to keep another key man in Jay Harris out of the side.

Dixon has missed just four of Town's 31 National League North games this season (Image: Sean Walsh)

Off the field too, he was a key presence and not just in terms of his standing in the dressing room – Andre Wisdom, for example, credited him as being the one who introduced him to the club while his influence on the likes of Isaac Buckley-Ricketts is clear.

So from a Macclesfield perspective, they have acquired a proven top performer at Northern Premier League level to help get them over the line to join Yellows in the National League North next season.

For Mark Beesley and Town, though, there is a big hole in the team that needs filling – but it looks as though the solutions lie within.

Harris stepping back into the team in his place would appear the most straightforward option, while there is also enough depth in defence for the possibility of Wisdom moving into midfield to be entertained.

In terms of squad depth, young midfielder Sam Gill could well be called back to the club having been dual-registered with NPL West club Trafford, for whom he has featured regularly since the turn of the year.

He has impressed in the appearances he has made for Town and with their position in the league table looking increasingly secure, there is an opportunity to expose him to more Step Two football in readiness for what appears to be a bright future.

Those kinds of musings may come as a disappointment to supporters who are – perhaps justifiably – worried at this further eating away at the squad’s depth without replacements being actively sought, particularly when the schedule is about to get hectic - they face a run of eight games in 28 days between February 17 and March 16.

However, that brings us neatly to the areas in which this deal makes sense.

For Dixon himself, the chance to significantly increase his wage at this stage in his career – he will be 35 by the time the deal he has just signed with the Silkmen expires – was one he simply could not turn down regardless of his affection for life at Town.

And at a time when every penny coming into the club counts, they could not afford to turn their nose up at receiving a transfer fee for a 34-year-old player for whom internal replacements are ready to step in.

As justifiable as it may be, however, there will be natural sadness as another big part of the furniture is removed.

Dixon celebrates with Isaac Buckley-Ricketts after the winning goal in last May's play-off final against Bamber Bridge (Image: Jonathan Moore)