Ferguson was a shock choice as Peterborough player-manager

Long-time Dragons midfielder Ferguson, 34, left the club on Saturday to become Peterborough's player-manager.

That followed rumours of arguments with Carey, who was a surprise choice to take the Dragons job ahead of Ferguson after Denis Smith's shock dismissal.

"I'm sorry Darren's gone, he's a close personal friend and was a great player for Wrexham, but he's wanted to be a manager all his life," said Carey.

I think that Darren was disappointed that he didn't get the Wrexham job, but he reacted in the right way Brian Carey

"The opportunity at Peterborough came his way and he grabbed it with both hands, I really wish him well.

"I think that Darren was disappointed that he didn't get the Wrexham job, but he reacted in the right way - and did so again when I left him on the bench against Swindon.

"That's the quality of the person and his quality as a professional.

Darren's a loss to the team, he was a great professional, but we can't let it affect us Wrexham midfielder Matt Done

"He is coming towards the end of his playing career, but he definitely had a part to play here in the next three or four months.

"He's moved on, though, and we have to focus on the players we have here now."

Ferguson, the son of Manchester United manager Sir Alex, has taken Kevin Russell - sacked from his role as assistant coach at Wrexham at the same time as Smith - to Peterborough as his side-kick

"Darren's a loss to the team, he was a great professional, but we can't let it affect us," Wrexham midfielder Matt Done told BBC Sport Wales.

Give us a couple of weeks and we will be a much better team Brian Carey

"I wasn't expected him to go, but it's a great opportunity for him and we all wish him well."

Carey did feel that the Ferguson news adversely affected his side in the 1-1 home draw with Hartlepool.

"We're disappointed with the way that we started, but perhaps that's because of the position we are in the table and there was also the situation with Darren," Carey told BBC Sport Wales.

"But given our league spot we can't afford to do that, we have to knuckle down and get on with things.