Formerly of Rotherham United, Hurst (33) featured in several recent pre-season friendlies but manager Billy McEwan said on Monday afternoon: "He just phoned me up and told me he was going elsewhere and it was a bit of a blow.

""We made him a offer which I thought he might have taken. But obviously the money was not enough.

"He can go part-time at Ilkeston and get another job as well, and earn more than we can offer him.

"I couldn't offer him more. I have to be careful with the pennies as it's not like we only have to bring in one or two more players. We need to bring a lot in still."

McEwan was bemused by BBC reports that Mark McGregor had not been offered a deal at Mansfield and ended up touting for a club via internet social forum Facebook - which won him a deal at Conference rivals Altrincham.

"We did make Mark an offer – but not what he was looking for," said McEwan.

"It was also a risky one as he was travelling over from Cheshire which is a couple of hours' driving.

"I like my players to try to be as near the club as possible. He would have spent more time in the car then on the training ground, which is not ideal.

"But he did come along and show us what he could do and I did want him to stay."

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