MIDFIELD talent Lewis Thompson will swap Wisbech Town for Ely City after snubbing an approach from March Town United.

The 21-year-old, who had been training with the Hares, said the offer of Thurlow Nunn Premier Division football with Ely was too hard to turn down.

He leaves his boyhood club having made 173 appearances and scored 17 goals - but the fans’ favourite has not ruled out a return to the Fenmen in future.

He said: “I had an in-depth chat about Ely’s plans for the future and how I fit into those and I was impressed. The pull of playing premier division football was a big deciding factor.

“Their performance last season also bodes well and I know they have kept the majority of the squad.

“It will be tricky going back to Wisbech but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. I think I’ve only been in the away dressing room to clean up in the past!

“It’s just a new experience I need to have. It was time for a change and things had got a bit stale.

“But I’ve left Wisbech on good terms and the ambition is to return at some point.”

Fenmen boss Steve Appleby said: “I totally understand his reasons for wanting to seek a fresh challenge and regular football at Ely.

“The parting is amicable and we wish him well. I’m sure we will see him in a Wisbech shirt again at some point in his career.”

Thompson’s decision will come as a blow to March, but the midfielder reserved praise for the Hares and their new boss Paul Crosbie.

He said: “The only down side I could find with March is that they’re not playing premier division football.

“I was impressed with how they’ve done things over there and they’re definitely going in the right direction. Paul is the right man to take them forward.

“It’s just a shame that they aren’t in the premier division. If they were I think I would have made my decision a long time ago.”