CAPTAIN Luke Pepper stunned March Town United this week by announcing that he was considering following former Hares boss Brett Whaley to Yaxley.

The 27-year-old has turned down a host of offers from non-league clubs over the last decade in order to stay with his home-town Hares.

But after Whaley departed for United Counties League outfit Yaxley last week, Pepper admitted he owed it to himself to consider moving on.

He said: “March has always been my club but whether it will be next year we will have to see.

“I’ve always been loyal and I would like to think I could stay, but everything is going to change again.

“I won’t make a decision until I know what’s going on with March but for the first time in a long while I feel I have to think about leaving.”

March have had seven applicants for the vacant manager’s job and interviews are set to take place next week.

Pepper, who met with Whaley on Tuesday to discuss a move to Yaxley, said the Hares’ new boss would need to bring reinforcements to the GER.

Players brought in by Whaley last summer, including Gav Cooke, Kyle Nolan and Dan Jenkins, are expected to follow him to Yaxley.

Centre-back Adam Sutton is considering having a year away from football, while striker Stuart Anderson and defenders Marc Welcher and Lewis Cook have been linked with Huntingdon Town.

Aaron Butcher is also set to leave the GER with several clubs interested in securing the goalkeeper’s services.

Pepper said: “It seems to be going round in circles at March and now it’s all change again. It’s frustrating because I was optimistic after such a good season.

“I’m not going to get too many more opportunities to make a go of it in a different league so really I have to start considering it.”

Pepper made his March debut as a 15-year-old on loan from Kettering Town.

He spent a year with Wisbech Town in 2005/06 but the midfielder has spearheaded the Hares in 10 of the last 11 seasons.