WISBECH Town midfielder Callum Reed has agreed to join King’s Lynn Town - just three months after he said moving to the club would be a sideways step in his career.

Reed, 20, has drawn admiring glances from across the non-league ladder since joining Steve Appleby’s Fenmen in November. Lynn put in a seven-day approach for the talented star in February but appear to have finally secured the midfielder’s services.

Reed - whose penalty helped Wisbech beat Wroxham 1-0 to win the Ridgeons League Challenge Challenge Cup - had even been approached by Blue Square Premier side Cambridge United.

Delighted joint King’s Lynn Town boss Kevin Boon said: “This is a terrific signing for myself and Gary Setchell.

“A lot of things were said before but we understood that Callum wanted to show loyalty to Wisbech and Steve Appleby. When we looked at Callum the previous time he was also FA Vase-tied which had a bearing on the situation.

“We watched him again three or four times towards the end of last season and he was outstanding. I know the likes of Cambridge United have had a look but this is a great coup for us.”

Appleby had admitted it was unlikely that Reed would pull on a Wisbech shirt again but the shock U-turn is set to stun the club’s loyal faithful.

Reed told the Wisbech Standard in February: “It’s always flattering to know that other clubs are interested in you but I was never tempted to leave.

“No disrespect to Lynn but I’d see joining them as a sideways step. I think I’d progress my career just as easily at Wisbech for now.

“Their interest created quite a stir and I’ve realised that the rivalry between the two clubs is massive. It’s a line I just wouldn’t want to cross.

“I’ve given my word to the club that I’d only leave if a team a couple of leagues higher up the ladder came in for me.”

The former Peterborough United trainee will make the cross-border switch - subject to paperwork being completed early this week. The news will stun Fenmen fans who are still reeling from Lynn’s bid for their inspirational skipper Paul Cousins.

Boon said: “Paul has a difficult choice to make because it’s his hometown club and I understand what a wrench that would be to leave.

“But the likes of Roy McManus and Jackie Gallagher and plenty of others have made a similar move between the two clubs. For myself and Setch though he has been an outstanding player for the past 18 months.

“He typifies everything you want in a leader and an inspirational figure. Paul has asked for time to think about it and we respect that but hopefully by the end of the week we will have a positive answer.

“I know people might turn around and say the clubs are at the same level in non-league football and whilst that is the case I’m sure any player looking at our club can see we are geared to go higher and we are ambitious to build on a successful first season.”