ANTONI Sarcevic has spoken for the first time about his shock exit at Bolton Wanderers.

Posting on his official Instagram site, the midfielder described his pride at having worn the captain’s armband at the UniBol and leading the club to promotion from League Two last season.

Sarcevic, who has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with non-league Stockport County, also hinted that the move may not have been of his own making in a short message to the supporters last night.

"Believe me when I say it was the proudest moment being captain of this club and the memories made in that season will stay forever," Sarcevic said.

"To you amazing fans who have wrote to me and ones who have just been brilliant, thanks for everything.

"Thanks for all the support and I wish you all the success going forward.

"The sport is brutal and can be out of your control. Love Sarce x."

Rumours of a fall-out between Sarcevic and Wanderers boss Ian Evatt have been played down behind the scenes – and the timing of the player’s exit, which came just days after he was dropped to the bench in a 3-0 defeat at his former employers Plymouth Argyle has done little to extinguish the speculation.

The 29-year-old was out of contract at the end of the season and had not been given any indication from Bolton that it would be renewed.

Stockport visit the UniBol next month in the first round of the FA Cup and first team manager Simon Rusk said he was pleased to bring in a player with such a wealth of experience.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have Antoni join the group,” he told the official website. “During my first conversations with him here, I have already felt his hunger to succeed.

“He is clearly someone with a high level of experience and pedigree from his time in the Football League, which we believe can add to us both on and off the pitch.”

Hatters’ director of football Simon Wilson added: “We are delighted to bring Antoni to the club, and we all believe we have secured the services of someone with the experience, mindset and quality to further drive the team forward.

“This shows our supporters again that everyone at the football club is relentless in our ambition to together take this club forward, and will not stop.”