WISBECH Town boss Steve Appleby has launched a bid to sign former March Town United winger Denny Escorcio after Callum Reed quit the club this week.

Reed has left the Fenmen to play for a side closer to his Peterborough home while he cares for his mother - who is suffering from an ongoing illness.

But Appleby has put in a seven-day approach to Soham Town Rangers for the talented Escorcio, in a quickfire bid to replace his star midfielder.

The Wisbech boss said: “We made a note of Denny when he was at March last year and he looked lively playing for Soham in a pre-season game against us.

“I’ve kept my eye on him ever since and I’m hoping there’s an opportunity to bring him in.”

Appleby praised the honesty of the departing Reed, who scored 24 goals in 54 appearances for the Fenmen.

He said: “Callum is a top lad and he has to put his mum first.

“We’ve agreed to speak to him again in the summer to see if anything has changed. It’s a decision that he had to take, rather than one he wanted to take.

“Anyone is going to miss somebody like him. When he’s been fit and on-song he’s been as good as anybody. But this football club is not about Callum Reed, it’s about us all pulling together and we will continue to do that.”

Lewis Thompson scored but Appleby was left cursing defensive errors as his side slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Stanway Rovers on Saturday.

He said: “I don’t think we played badly - three mistakes just cost us big style.

“We haven’t become a bad side over night. It’s the same bunch of lads who got us in this position and had a great FA Vase run.

“We’ve let ourselves down in the last three games but hopefully we can get back to training, rectify that and start smiling again.”

The Wisbech boss also hinted that youngsters Danny Emmington, Ollie Gale and Sam Murphy may be given more responsibility.

He said: “It may be the sort of time to give these boys a bit of experience, perhaps with a view for next year. I’m happy to tinker around and have a look at one or two.”

Wisbech travel to Wivenhoe Town in the Ridgeons Premier Division on Saturday.