Simon Pettit says he couldn’t stand in the way of close friend Mo Takaloo who agreed a move to Whitstable just days after being pictured in a Canterbury City shirt.

Takaloo was handed the captaincy by his former Ramsgate team-mate Pettit and was photographed on the club’s official website signing a sheet of paper but Pettit admitted: “People know I am working on a limited budget and Mo was talking with Whitstable before I even got the job here.

“I asked him to come and be my captain as he has all the qualities I’m looking for and he was happy to sign but when Whitstable made him an offer this week I just couldn’t compete.

“He’s a seasoned player, he’s not a kid climbing up the ladder and I’m not going to hold anyone back if they get a chance like this.”

Takaloo said: “Simon is my best mate, and asked me if I could do him a favour by joining Canterbury.

“Jason Lillis (Whitstable’s assistant manager) spoke to me a while ago, saying Whitstable wanted to take a look at me and see if I was still fit. He then texted me this week saying they had heard I’d signed for Canterbury but thought I was going there.

“Whitstable have made me a good offer and I want to have a crack at playing at the highest level for as long as can."