DORCHESTER boss Mark Morris said agreeing to sell goalkeeper Mark Ormerod to Worthing was "a big wrench".

"Mark's not just a good goalkeeper, he's also a good friend of mine and that made it very hard," said Morris who made Ormerod's loan move to the Ryman Premier League side a permanent one for an undisclosed fee at the weekend.

Morris brought his former Brighton and Hove Albion team-mate to the Avenue Stadium four years ago and he has clocked up 175 first team appearances for the club.

But after the arrival of Pompey youngster Craig Bradshaw, the 28-year-old Ormerod became the Magpies second choice keeper and in August he was loaned to Worthing.

"I would love to have kept him here, but Craig is doing really well and the bottom line is Mark's too good a keeper to be on the bench all the time," said Morris.

"He wants to be playing and I can understand that, so we talked it over from all points of view and I decided I couldn't stand in his way if he wanted to move.

"We have parted on the best of terms and I wish him well at Worthing."

After joining the Magpies following a brief spell at Woking, Ormerod soon became a fans' favourite at the Avenue Stadium.

He monopolised the player of the year awards in his first season and was also voted the best English goalkeeper outside of the Football League by a non-League website.

He played a major role in the Magpies return to the Dr Martens Premier Division as Eastern Division champions two seasons ago and also landed winners' medals in the Dorset Senior Cup, Dr Martens League Cup and the Southern League Championship match.

"By his own admission he had a bit of a sticky spell last season, but I know he's still a good keeper and I'm glad he's re-discovering his best form at Worthing," said Morris who added that he was hopeful of signing another goalkeeper on non-contract forms.

Ormerod kept a clean sheet for Worthing on Saturday as they beat Dover 1-0 for a fourth straight win.