After completing a £150,000 move to Rotherham United yesterday evening, Tom Pope revealed that he felt it was the right time for him to move on to a new challenge. Crewe gave the Millers permission to speak to the former Biddulph Victoria striker yesterday, after agreement was met on the fee and the 23-year-old signed on the dotted line after passing a routine medical.

Pope, who scored 17 goals in 64 appearances for the club has signed a three-year deal with Mark Robins' side and he is determined to prove the doubters wrong next season in League Two.

Tom told the club's official web-site: "It was getting a bit frustrating for me towards the end of my time at Crewe because even though I felt I was doing a decent job for the team I was the one who would lose my place. That's football and I'm not using that as an excuse but it can get you down.

"I wasn't really looking to move on and no-one at Crewe forced me out or made me feel unwanted. Rotherham made an enquiry and I felt it was in my interest to go and speak to them.

"I just felt it was the right time for me to move on and give myself a new challenge. They have a new chairman at Rotherham and he is looking to develop a new training ground and make improvements to the stadium where they are playing at.

"It is a club that has had problems with administration in the past but they are a club on an upward curve and I hope I can go there and prove a few people wrong who feel I am not good enough. Football is all about opinions and it is up to me to prove to people that I am good enough at this level and higher."

Pope was plucked from non-league side Biddulph Victoria by arguably one of the most influential people in his career Neil Baker and the striker admits he will miss Bakers' input now that he has completed his switch to Yorkshire.

Tom admits: "Crewe is a great club and there are some great people there. Neil has been a big influence on my career and he has always tried to help me, to improve me as a player. That is the great thing about Crewe they work on you and improve you as an individual.

"I learned a great deal from working with the likes of Dario, Steve and Neil and they have helped me become the player I am today. It is just that I thought it was time for a new challenge.

Tom added: "Gudjon has come into the club and he is a great bloke and a good manager, who I am sure will take the club forward, but I just felt it was time to move on and I'm delighted that Rotherham have come in for me and are prepared to pay that sort of fee for me because it shows that the manager and the chairman have faith in my ability."