EXETER City manager Paul Tisdale has thanked Andy Marriott for his three-and-a-half years of service at St James's Park as the veteran keeper and general manager prepares to move to West Brom.

The 40-year-old has landed the post of assistant to the sporting technical director at The Hawthorns – as revealed in yesterday's Echo Sport – and will start his new job at the beginning of January.

Tisdale says Marriott has earned the opportunity to work at a Premier League club and admits he will be missed at St James's Park.

"I am extremely pleased for him," said the Grecians boss. "He wants to develop his career and it is a fantastic step for him.

"I think we should be proud of the progress he has made during the last year as general manager at Exeter City.

"He is proud of himself and we should be proud of him as well in the same way as we are when a player develops, progresses and moves on to a club at a higher level.

"It is testament to the way we work and the way people are managed at Exeter that people can go and attain a job such as this one.

"Everyone at the club is pleased for him and I am sure he will do very well."

Marriott arrived at St James's Park on a free transfer in 2007 and has gone to make 56 appearances for the Devon club.

His last appearance came in February, when he featured in the 1-0 home defeat against Stockport County.

Marriott has juggled playing duties with the general manager's role at St James's Park, which has seen him organise coach travel and hotels and provide day-to-day assistance to Tisdale.

"He has been a player for 20 years-plus and he got a wonderful opportunity at Exeter to get involved in most departments and gain experience and knowledge on how a football club works," Tisdale said.

"It is no different whatever level you are at. There may be different budgets and facilities but, in essence, football clubs work in a similar fashion."

Tisdale admits the club are not likely to seek a replacement for Marriott until the end of the season, when they will review the position.

"In the short-term we won't replace him," said Tisdale. "We created a job for him because I was very keen to utilise his talents.

"What he has done in the last few years has been to set up processes and patterns of business that we can now carry on for the next five or six months.

"No doubt long-term there will be a need for someone to come in and do that job."

City's vice-chairman Julian Tagg said: "Andy played a major role at the club with his experience across many areas.

"He also provided cover on the playing side as well so, in terms of value for money, what Andy contributed was considerable and he will be missed."