Ayr United skipper Ross Docherty has agreed to join Championship rivals Partick Thistle, the Ayrshire Post can reveal.
Doc, 26, will move to Firhill next summer on a two year contract.
Former boss Ian McCall has begun his raids on Somerset Park by tempting his old captain into the move.
Docherty, who has spent almost five years at Ayr, admitted: "It has been a hard decision for me to make.
"I love Ayr, have a great relationship with the fans and my time here has been fantastic.
"But the reality of Scottish football at this level is when you're offered a fair bit more money, you have to take the chance."
Docherty will see out the remainder of his deal at Ayr until the end of this season as the club chase promotion to the Premiership.
And he insisted: "I'll give it my all for this club and always have. Nobody can ever doubt that.
"My big regret is that I won't get to work with Mark Kerr moving forward as he's been fantastic since taking over.
"He's going to make a great manager and will be a success here, I'm sure of that.
"But Thistle are a club who want to stabilise under Ian McCall then try and win the league next season.
"I would have kicked myself if I hadn't taken the opportunity to be part of that."
Ayr boss Kerr insisted the strong lure of McCall had proved pivotal in swaying his skipper.
He said: "Wherever Ian has gone in his career, he has returned to previous clubs and taken his most trusted players with him.
"He has a special bond with particular boys and that's what makes his dressing rooms so successful.
"We're obviously disappointed to be losing Doc but the fact is Thistle have a bit of money to play with and are going to be using it.
"I know Doc's character and have no worries whatsoever about playing him between now and the end of the season.
"He's given everything for this club since the day he got here and that won't stop now."
