Max Watters deal is 'great business for the club', says Crawley Town head coach John Yems

But he also added his disappointment at losing the 16-goal striker.

Hotshot Watters joined Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee at the weekend.

The 21-year-old has been a revelation since signing for the Reds in October.

He joined the Reds alongside Nick Tsaroulla in October and made a spectacular impact right from the off.

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Watters scored his first Crawley goal against Arsenal U21 in the EFL Trophy.

On the Cardiff deal, Yems said: “It’s great business for the club. Is it great business for the team? Obviously I am disappointed because Max is a good player and great to work with and we have done well with him.

“Is it a fact of life? Yes it is. It’s one of those things we have to live with.

“We have to soldier on, get someone else or make sure we have the players we have are challenging for places and see if someone else can step up to the plate.”

In an interview with Kent Online, Maidstone boss Hakan Hayrettin said Crawley Town didn’t have a clue who Watters was and that his club deserved some credit for his move to the Championship side.

But Yems said: “I knew him before Maidstone, the fact we wanted him had nothing to do with Maidstone. We knew about Max before that game. It is good to bring him on and for him to move on, but replacing him is a different matter. Good luck to him, he has earned his move, I just hope the kid goes on and does the best he can.”

And on new signings James Tilley and Jordan Maguire-Drew, Yems said: "Both are good acquisitions for the club and being local helps.