Ironside netted 48 goals in 96 appearances for the Reds and had been offered a long-term contract to remain at Aggborough – the temptation to do so increased further by the appointment of new manager John Pemberton at the club.

Ironside worked with Pemberton during their Sheffield United days, and the forward told www.harriers.co.uk that turning down the chance to work with him again wasn’t an easy one. He said: “The new manager there is hard-working, disciplined and committed and, on top of that, he’s a top, top bloke.

“When he managed me at Sheffield United, I was just a boy – the things I was taught then are the things I am still improving on now, and a lot of what I know now is down to him”.