Trigger, who is the league leading goal kicker with nine goals this season, will make use of the transfer window which begins on May 22 to play in the top tier.

The move will leave a significant void for City to fill and while the club wished Trigger all the best and thanked him for his services, the 22-year-old’s decision was far from ideal for the Ballarat side hopeful of earning promotion.

Coach Danny Gnjidic said Trigger had been a much sought after player, particularly after his blistering form this season. However, Gnjidic said while it was great the region was producing top-level talent, the fact that that talent was leaving to play at a higher level impedes Ballarat’s ability to forge its way into that top tier.

”There was some sense that Michael might attract interest, he’s obviously had a good month,” Gnjidic said.

“We were hoping, and the expectation was, that he’d be committed to seeing out the season, but opportunity knocked and he felt like he needed to take it.

“As a current coach, you’re torn to a point. You want to keep your best players and Michael has been a key part of what we’re doing, but at the same time the club wants to be able to provide opportunity for players to play at the highest level.”

Trigger joins Brandon Lauton (Melbourne Victory), Stefan Nigro (Melbourne Victory) and Aaron Romein (St Albans – NPL) as former players to have taken up opportunities at the higher levels.

In no way does the club begrudge the departures, but Gnjidic said it was difficult seeing quality players, who could help City’s promotion cause, leave in search of the level of soccer Ballarat itself is aiming to place in coming years.

“While it’s a great development ground for local talent, we’ve got to do what we can to keep our best talent so the best talent is playing at the highest level in Ballarat.

“We’re not going to make the highest level ourselves if we keep producing talent then it’s going elsewhere.

“With those three players in the squad as it stands now we’re obviously going to be a stronger team and we give ourselves a chance to really push for promotion.

“I want to provide all our younger players in the current squad an opportunity to play at the highest level, but that opportunity needs to be with Ballarat.

“We don’t want to deny anyone those opportunities.”

Trigger previously came close to making the move. He spent the full 2016 pre-season training with Hume City before returning to Ballarat a week out from its season opener.

Gnjidic forecast Ballarat would be active during the three-week transfer period as it searches for a replacement and assesses its squad.

“We don’t want to lose Trigger, but we move on. We’ll be looking to add (players) in the window.

“We wish Michael all the best...but now we’ve got to look forward.”

Ballarat City sits eighth on the National Premier League two west ladder after 12 round of the season, however it is only two games off the second-placed Moreland Zebras.