Longest serving player Kelvin Langmead today waved an emotional farewell to Shrewsbury Town, declaring: “I’ve had to let my head rule my heart.”

Langmead’s move to Peterborough was completed yesterday afternoon when he signed a three-year-deal after Town had agreed an undisclosed fee with the League One club.

The former Preston trainee spent five-and-a-half years at Shrewsbury, where he made 229 starts, but admitted the opportunity to move up a level was too good to resist.

“It’s been a really tough decision because anybody that knows me will know I’m very passionate about Shrewsbury Town,” said Langmead.

“It’s been a huge part of my life – I came here as a 19-year-old and leave a 25-year-old so I’ve pretty much grown up here.

“I’ve had a fantastic time and I will always be grateful for all the support I’ve had at Shrewsbury.

“But I have had to let my head rule my heart because this is a massive opportunity for me.

“I’ve moved to a really good club in League One and when a manager like Gary Johnson (Peterborough boss) comes calling with what he has achieved in the game, you would be stupid to ignore it.

“It’s a big challenge for me. I’m under no illusions that I’m going to walk straight into the side and I will have to work very hard to prove myself.”

Langmead, who arrived at Shrewsbury as a striker before being converted to a defender by former boss Gary Peters, joins last season’s top scorer Dave Hibbert in making the move to London Road.

With two other influential figures from last season – Graham Coughlan and Terry Dunfield – also moving on, the Shrewsbury playing staff will be undergoing significant changes this summer.

Massive

But Langmead believes the club remains well placed to push for promotion in the coming season.

“The fact we haven’t got promoted in my time at the club is a huge regret which will live with me for a while,” he added.

“When I first came to the club, it was all about stopping in the League but there have been massive progressions over the last few years and it’s a big disappointment we haven’t had success on the pitch.

“But everything is still in place to achieve a promotion and I desperately hope Shrewsbury can do that very quickly.”