On Saturday it was confirmed that forward Alan Judge will be departing Meadow Lane this summer.
Judge has spent three impressive years with the Magpies, having initially joined on loan from Blackburn Rovers in August 2010.
His energetic performances in the black and white stripes quickly established him as a fans’ favourite and it was greatly received when the Irishman made his move permanent in January 2011.
Judge played a pivotal role in helping the Magpies avoid relegation after his return from injury at the end of the 2010.11 campaign, before following it up with arguably his finest campaign in a County shirt.
With 12 assists and seven goals, most of them spectacular hits, the 24-year-old deservedly received the Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Year accolades at the End of Season Awards Night.
He has continued to deliver this term by scoring eight and setting up 11, which has led to him being named in the PFA npower League 1 Team of the Year.
Judge had hoped to be playing Championship football with Notts next term but, having fallen short this term, he made the difficult decision to take on a new challenge at a higher level after his contract expires in the close-season.
“Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and I’ve loved the fans for the way that they’ve taken to me," he told Magpie Player.
“The small minority think that I’m going for the money but they’re the people that don’t come to watch games.
“If anybody knows me as a person and a player, they know that I always give 100 per cent and I think more or less all of the fans have been great to me and I’d like to say thank you to them.
“It’s been a difficult decision because I’m settled and I’ve lived here for the past three years, me and my girlfriend have got a house and I love it here.
“There just comes a time when you think it’s right to move on and I’ve given everything to this club, it’s just a matter of a new challenge.
“I’m an ambitious person and I hope fully would like to try myself up another level if that comes.”
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