STAR striker Jon Stead made an emotional £1.25m exit from the McAlpine today insisting Town can still win promotion without him.

The 20-year-old will sign a four-and-a-half year deal with Premiership Blackburn Rovers in a move he described as "every schoolboy's dream."

While Town immediately began the search for a replacement, Stead was tieing up loose ends on his new personal terms at Ewood Park and completing a medical.

He was due to be unveiled as Graeme Souness's fourth signing of the transfer window late today, but took time out to explain his thoughts on the third hightest move in Town history.

"It is a great move for me and one which I simply couldn't turn down," said Stead, who had smashed in 18 goals in just 31 appearances for Town this season.

"I will be getting the chance to play first-team football at the highest level straight away, I'm sure of that, and it's every schoolboy's dream to play in the Premier League.

"It is an emotional time, though, because Huddersfield Town have been my life. For the last 10 years they have been all I've thought about and worked towards, but there comes a time when everyone has to move on and, career wise, this is that time for me."

While Town prepare to welcome Darlington to the McAlpine on Saturday - chasing a 22-year club best of seven wins on the trot - Stead will go straight into the Blackburn squad at Middlesbrough.

"I'm very confident that Town will continue to do well," said Stead, who watched Rovers' lose 3-2 at home to Chelsea yesterday to be fifth from bottom, three points above the drop zone.

"If I wasn't so confident and thought they were going to go downhill from here, then it would have been a much harder decision.

"With the way we are playing at the moment, I can only see us going from strength to strength, because Jon Newby only needs a goal to set him off, Nat Brown is doing very well and Boothy is ready to return from injury.

"There is enough firepower there to keep us going well and, with the way the midfield and defence are playing at the moment, I'm sure Town will do fine, I really am."

Stead will remain a staunch Town fan and will be back down at the McAlpine "every chance I get."

He added: "I have grown up with the boys at Town and love them to bits, so I will miss them all - that's the saddest thing about this.

"I will definitely be keeping in touch and I'll be down to see the lads, Jacko and Taff as often as I can.

"I will also miss the fans, and I hope they all understand that this is too good an opportunity for me to miss.

"People will be upset, I know that, and I'm upset because Town have been my life for the last 10 years, but I've got to move my career on.

"Anyone sitting in the stands would feel exactly the way I do. They would feel sad at leaving the club which is in their heart, but they would want to play in the Premiership and be a part of all that that involves.

"As a career move, it's a fantastic opportunity and I've got that chance now, so I've got to take it.

"I'm expecting everything to go through and, while I'm moving on, I will always keep in touch with what's happening at Town and I wish all the lads and everyone in the club all the best for this season and the future."

It is understood Stead himself turned down a rival bid from Sunderland over the weekend.

The Black Cats have been suitors since their initial £800,000 bid was turned down in October and hoped their re-structured deal would be enough to tempt Town and the player.

Sources suggest Town could pocket a total of £1.25m if Stead is successsful and Blackburn retain their place in the top flight.

One third of the fee - which is officially undisclosed - will be paid via the PFA towards the debt owing to the previous squad following administration. That was part of the agreement when Ken Davy took control of the club in August.