Watford Ladies manager John Salomon says the club are disappointed to lose Sarah Wiltshire to Yeovil Town but accepted the creative midfielder needed a new challenge in her career.

The 23-year-old was the Golden Girls’ vice captain and has been a key player for the side during the past three seasons.

However, the Wales international decided to switch to the Glovers, who sit one place below Watford in the Women’s Super League Two table.

Hornets boss Salomon said: “Sarah has been a great servant for Watford Ladies and of course we are disappointed to see her leave the club.

“She has played a key role since I took over the side and has been a very important player for us. But Sarah has decided it is the right time for her to take up a new challenge and we wish her all the best.

“While all our players are registered to the club, they do not have contracts – we are not at that level yet. So we do not get anything for her, it’s a free transfer.”

He added: “What her departure does is it opens the door for other players. Sarah didn’t start in the last two matches we played and we scored seven goals, so it shows we can definitely cope without her.

“We’ve brought in Kim Farrow from Leicester City who could replace Sarah while there are a few other players who can step up and try and take her place in the side.”

Speaking to the Yeovil Town Ladies website, Wiltshire explained: “I needed a fresh opportunity as a player and I am always looking to improve and develop.

“I have heard so many good things about the club over the last 12 months and it was a chance to be in a new environment where I can progress.

“Having trained with the squad, the intensity and work rate really impressed me and I can't wait to get started.”

Yeovil manager Sarah Lawler added: “She has a fantastic ability to make things happen in the final third of the pitch and has that cutting edge in an area we were looking to strengthen. She can play anywhere across the front or wide, so her versatility is going to be a massive asset to the squad.”

The Golden Girls were set to be in Continental Cup action on Saturday against Reading Ladies but the game was cancelled after Reading were removed from the competition by the FA for fielding an ineligible player.

The Hornets were awarded a victory and the three points but they are still unable to make it out of the group stage of the cup.

Salomon said: “It’s quite frustrating. We knew that no matter the result that we’d be unable to qualify but we were looking at the game as a chance to use our squad and look at a few different players.

“We wanted to give players who haven’t played as much recently some time on the pitch and unfortunately we weren’t able to do that.

“We knew that the game might not go ahead on Tuesday but I don’t think we were told until the Thursday. So we had to adjust training to make sure the players underwent the right intensity of work.

“We didn’t have a match coming up this weekend either but we have been able to arrange a behind-closed-doors friendly with Queens Park Rangers for this Sunday.

“That will be a good test for the squad and it is one they need having not played for a couple of weeks.”