Graydon had only been with Northern League Division Two side Roofing a few weeks after signing from Sunderland RCA, but McLoughlin denied the former Gateshead and Durham player left the club in the lurch.

He said: "It was a mutual decision. I had a chat with Keith and we agreed that perhaps his style of play wasn't suited to Division Two.

"Blue Star were interested, so I told him to have a chat with them. He's still signed on with us, and there's been no fall-out.

"I rang him at tea-time on Tuesday when I knew we were short (for the Durham Challenge Cup game with Dunston Fed), and he was more than happy to help us out.

"He didn't do the dirty on us or do a runner, and he said he will help us out when we're short.

"He's such a good player, and likes to get the ball down and pass it, but his style of play wasn't quite suited to us.

"It was my fault, I brought him in and it didn't work."

McLoughlin insisted that despite Blue Star not needing to pay a transfer fee – unlike Roofing, who reportedly stumped up a substantial sum to RCA for his services – the club weren't out of pocket after the deal.