Boreham Wood chairman claims Chesterfield paid 'amazing' fee for star striker Kabongo Tshimanga

Hunter also joked that Spireites manager James Rowe was ‘like a dog with a bone’ as he showed great determination to land the prolific forward.

Tshimanga, 24, one of the most sought-after strikers in the National League, has signed a three-year contract.

Rowe has long been an admirer of Tshimanga and Hunter admitted the fee he demanded was aimed with Championship and League One clubs in mind.

In an official club interview, Hunter appeared to suggest that he had an agreement with Tshimanga about the fee which would be required for them to consider letting him go.

Initially, Hunter says, Chesterfield were recently told that he was ‘not for sale’, but after having a couple of bids rejected, the Spireites finally met the asking price late on Monday.

Hunter said: "In all fairness to their manager, James Rowe, he was like a dog with a bone – he would not let go!”

Hunter also said that they did not want ‘Kabs’ to go and that they were willing to offer him an improved deal but he wanted to stick to his word.

"We put it to Kabs, just as we had promised in March and April, that if that figure had been matched then it would activate it to a point where it became Kabs’ decision,” the chairman explained.

"That is what happened, Kabs declared an interest in that he wanted to talk to the buying club.”

The fee is undisclosed, but it will be a significant one and Hunter expressed his surprise at the deal.

He added: “The fee we had set was a top League One or Championship club but that also shows the ambition of the Chesterfield manager and the faith Chesterfield have in his judgement.

"For people my age they will remember Chesterfield being in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Chesterfield are a big, big club.

"Chesterfield handled everything impeccably and, as I say, their manager is very ambitious and he would not let go and the final fee agreed is an amazing fee for a National League team, especially to get that done with a fellow National League team, so hats off to Chesterfield.”