TALENTED striker Paul Moore has rocked Stourport Swifts by switching to local rivals Bromsgrove Rovers in a shock close-season move.

Swifts' management team of Rod Brown and Gary Whild were even more mystified to find the skilful player had left the club without telling them.

Moore, a former Walsall trainee and Kidderminster Harriers semi-professional, had formed a fine striking partnership with goal machine Lee Booth.

But he has become one of a host of signings unveiled by manager Steve Daniels at Bromsgrove Rovers who aim to bounce back to the Dr Martens League Western Division at the first attempt.

Ironically, Rovers - who have had Moore on the books before -- traded places with promoted Swifts in their drop to the Midland Alliance.

As a result, Swifts are challenging former Redditch and Evesham striker Jamie Hart to fill the gap.

Swifts assistant manager Whild said: "We were surprised more than anything at the way the situation came about.

"Rod had spoken to Paul a fortnight ago and there was no problem. He had agreed terms.

"Then we heard second-hand about the Bromsgrove move - there was no contact from the lad - and found it was true.

"I thought he would have picked up the phone and put us in the picture but he didn't and we are just a bit sad about that."

Whild admitted Swifts had helped bring out the talent Moore clearly possessed by converting him from winger to striker.

He explained: "He always maintained that he was a striker but had never been given the chance to play there.

"We gave him that opportunity and to be fair he owed us nothing, did well and scored goals.

"He also said he was capable of playing at a higher level and he was able to put these two things together with our promotion.

"But all of a sudden he has dropped down a level and is not necessarily guaranteed to be playing. We only want players who want to come and play for us.

"He's potentially a player who could get into the Football League as he's only around 21. That's one of the carrots Daniels tends to dangle."

Hart proved he could score goals at Redditch, while Evesham paid a small fee for his services before he decided his future was elsewhere.

Whild said: "Evesham wanted to hold him to his contract though he wanted to leave.

"It went on for two or three months and knocked the stuffing out of him. He lost a bit of enthusiasm.

"However, if you look at him and Paul Moore, he probably has more of a proven record. He's scored goals wherever he's played."

Meanwhile, England schoolboys trialist Adrian Hipkins, who has impressed in games for Worcestershire, will be Swifts' number two goalkeeper to Rob Clarke.

Kidderminster-based teenager Hipkins was playing for Bewdley Town last season.

Whild added: "Adrian's someone potentially we can work with and see how it goes.

"He's obviously got a pedigree and is a local lad."

Swifts have already signed Quentin Townsend, Willie Dunn, David Davies, Adam Nicholls and Asa Charlton before their first season in the Dr Martens League.