Reece Staunton has completed a permanent move to League Two outfit Grimsby Town for an undisclosed fee.

The defender has earned his switch to the EFL on the back of two excellent seasons in a Moors shirt during which he made 98 appearances for the Club in all competitions.

Staunton was a treble Player of the Year winner during his debut season at The Brewery Field after arriving in the summer of 2023 following a spell at Bradford (Park Avenue).

He continued that exceptional form into last term when he missed just four league games and contributed with an incredible 16 assists from left-back, sharing the Players’ Player of the Year prize with top scorer Glen Taylor.

The Club made the talented 23-year-old an improved offer in a bid to keep him in the North East into the 2025/26 campaign, but he has now opted to take up the chance to move into the Football League.

“Reece leaves the Club with nothing but our best wishes,” admitted boss Graeme Lee.

“We’d have loved to have kept him here because he’s been outstanding for us over the last two seasons, but we can’t stand in the way of an opportunity for him to go and play in the EFL.

“He’s not only been a key player for us, but he’s also got an excellent attitude and a desire to improve so I’ve no doubt at all that he’ll be a huge success at Grimsby.

“Although we’re disappointed, the fact we’ve now had two players in Reece and Isaac (Fletcher) earn moves to the EFL in the last six months underlines that we’re doing plenty of things right as a Club.”