This past Monday, Sam Foley agreed a deal to join League One side, Northampton Town, when his contract expires on July 1st.
After losing the midfielder to the Cobblers, Michael Brown said it's a shame to see him go, despite the fact Vale offered a better deal in terms of finances.
He said: "Sam left with a heavy heart. He loved this football club, he obviously wore the armband of late and he enjoyed being a part of this club.
"His wife and his young baby, they were all very well liked here and it is a shame for that to happen. However, it's a League One football club and that's what he have to understand. That's why he has gone."
The 30-year-old now joins Justin Edinburgh's men and he will be playing his football at Sixfields Stadium next season as opposed to Vale Park.
Brown continued: "He missed a lot of football early on playing Non-League and he wants to try and progress to the Championship.
"Financially we offered a better deal than Northampton so full credit to Sam Foley, it is about football for him and we did everything as a club to keep him."