JACK Lampe admits he is leaving Concord Rangers with a heavy heart after he joined fellow National League South side St Albans City.

The defender joined the Hertfordshire outfit earlier this week, ending his three-year stint with the Beach Boys, after a change in his work arrangements meant the journey to the south of the county would be too much.

And the 23-year-old accountant says he had to make the move for the sake of his career, after he took up a college course as part of his day job.

“This is a work-related move,” said the centre-back. “I have recently begun a new course as part of my job and I wouldn’t be able to offer the commitment the management or I would expect.

“I spoke with the manager (Adam Flanagan) and I said I couldn’t commit to being at every training session and we agreed it was the best thing for me to do. It wasn’t a decision I wanted to make, but this had to be the way it went.”

The Concord defender was part of the side that retained the Essex Senior Cup in the last two seasons and he also stepped in as an emergency goalkeeper for Concord, on two occasions against Wealdstone.

Although Lampe insists he doesn’t want to get a reputation as a stand-in custodian.

“It was a bit of a rash decision to go in goal,” he said, despite only conceding one goal in more than 90 minutes of football. “But when your team needs you, you just do it. It came off the back of some handball we were doing at training but I hope that is the last time I’m needed in that sense. I’m a defender!”

Lampe failed to nail down a spot in the heart of the Concord defence last term, with Steve King and Matt Fry preferred by Danny Cowley.

Following Fry’s departure, Lampe was expected to play a more prominent role next season and he says he has been told he will start at St Albans if his performances merit it.

“It is nice to get that faith from the manager and I will do my best for St Albans. I don’t think there is a lot of difference between them and Concord so next year’s matches should be interesting.”