Goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer has left Gloucester City to join potential league rivals Weston-super-Mare on a two-year contract.

The departure of the 29-year-old leaves a huge gap in the close-knit Tigers squad.

The move reunites him with his former Salisbury City team-mate Scott Bartlett.

Gloucester manager Dave Mehew said Sawyer, who joined the Tigers two seasons ago from Cirencester Town, was leaving the club on good terms.

He said: "Weston phoned him up the day after we won at Farnborough and offered him a fantastic deal we couldn't get anywhere near.

"He is joining a good club and we wish him well. Weston are having a bit of a go next season and good luck to them.

"They have also told him he will be playing with some of his old friends, which is really nice for him."

The Swindon-based keeper started out with Cirencester Town as an academy player before moving to Salisbury, with whom he won the Southern League Premier Division title in the 2005-06 season.

He returned to Cirencester to play under Neil Hards but left the Centurions in May 2007.

During his spell with Gloucester he started more than 100 matches and was regarded as one of the strongest keepers in the Southern League.

Mehew said Sawyer would be missed by everyone at the club.

"He has been fantastic," he said. "I will never forget the save he made just before half-time in the play-off final.

"He has been a great servant to the club. Kev is only 29 and he has an option at Weston for two years, but keepers go on into their 40s.

"Never say never, we might see him at the club again."

With the decision on whether the Tigers will play in the Blue Square North or South still pending, Mehew said he was concentrating on finding a replacement for Sawyer.

He said he was considering his options and had at least three options pending.