Airbus UK Broughton boss Andy Preece admits Glenn Rule's move to Stockport County 'came completely out of the blue'.
Rule, 25, has left the Hollingsworth Group Stadium after the Welsh Premier League club accepted an undisclosed bid from the Hatters.
National League North side Stockport have not yet announced the deal, but Preece confirmed Rule's destination.
The deal will see the midfielder link up with ex-Chester FC manager Neil Young again after the pair worked together at Colwyn Bay in 2010.
Preece explained: "The move came completely out of the blue, Glenn had just signed a two-year deal but Stockport came in for him.
"We wouldn't stand in the way of any player who wants to better himself and Glenn has been extremely loyal to us, he is the only squad player remaining from when we took over three-and-a-half-years ago."
Birkenhead-born Rule began his career at Chester City and made his debut in October 2007 as a 17-year-old.
He finished the 2007-08 campaign with four league outings and made a further 22 appearances the following season, which ended in relegation.
Rule remained with the club until March 2010, when the debt-ridden Blues were expelled from the Football Conference before being wound-up in the High Court.
He moved to Colwyn Bay later that month and spent time at Stalybridge Celtic before signing for the Wingmakers in 2011.
Rule has since been one of the club's most consistent performers, scoring 12 goals from in 104 league games and made four appearances in the Europa League.
