WADE Elliott made grown men cry at Wembley in May 2009.

Perhaps there was a tear shed the other night too, as his six-year spell at Turf Moor came to an end just before the transfer deadline.

The player whose goal fired Burnley into the Premier League has been reunited with Steven Caldwell, the captain who led the way, after becoming a Birmingham City player just before the 11pm cut-off on Wednesday.

He had the choice between three Championship clubs in the end, with Nottingham Forest and Watford understood to have made late bids.

However, the opportunity to play in Europe with the newly-relegated Blues proved too good to resist for the winger who climbed from non-league to the Premier League, and is now facing the Europa League stage.

“It’s a big club and a fresh challenge,” said Elliott, who joined the Clarets on a free transfer from Bournemouth in the summer of 2005.

“They’ve retained a really strong squad, they have pass-ionate support and with the opportunity to play in Europe, it ticks a lot of boxes. It’s a big season ahead.”

The 32-year-old agreed a two-year deal at St Andrew’s, thought to be worth upwards of £400,000, but revealed there were some anxious moments before it all went through at around 10.55pm.

“It went to the wire,” added Elliott, who made 282 appearances for Burnley, scoring 23 goals – including four in the Premier League after hitting that Wembley winner against Sheffield United in the 2008/09 Championship play-off final.

He was contracted to 2013, after agreeing new terms under previous manager Brian Laws.

He might have ended his career at Turf Moor.

But Junior Stanislas’ arrival on Wednesday prompted the end of an era.

With the board keen to balance the books, something had to give.

However, Eddie Howe, who has worked with Elliott as a team-mate at Bournemouth and later his manager at Burnley, admitted the deal was done with a heavy heart.

“We’re sad to see Wade go. Obviously he’s been a huge part of Burnley’s recent history and he’s been an excellent player for the club,” he said.

“He’s given good service to the club and is a good professional.

"You can’t underestimate the impact he has had in the last few years.

“It was a difficult decision, but the offer was a good one that we received, and I couldn’t guarantee Wade the football that he wanted.

“The European side of it, for him personally, at this stage of his career - that works for him.

“We weren’t going to stand in his way when it was what he wanted as well.

“He goes with our best wishes.”

Howe added: “Before I got the manager’s job I was good friends with Wade.

“That changes when a relationship changes as manager, but I’ve still got a lot of time for him professionally and personally.

“He’s worked his way up the hard way from non-league to the Premier League.

“Unfortunately for us we have to look to the future and we’re looking to build a new squad and go in a different direction.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate what he has done, though.”

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