Stalwart Gary Freear is planning on regaining the Tucker title rather than hoping Wisbech Town can land a fairytale reprieve to join the region's elite.

The Capital of the Fens club lifted their first-ever Cambs Premier title in the summer only to lose an East Anglian Premier League promotion play-off final to Norwich days later. And even though Clacton have withdrawn from the EAPL as a result of settling a five-figure tax bill, the brilliant batsman is sure Wisbech will not be offered the chance to replace them.

Freear said: 'At the start of the winter there was a strong possibility that Vauxhall Mallards were going to be struggling after losing their ground and I spoke to Andy Abbott then (EAPL secretary) about what might happen if they pulled out.

'He said 'we're not going to relegate the side that finishes bottom of the EAPL next year' and I can't see why that would have changed. From a club point of view we would take promotion if it was offered to us, but personally I don't think it will be. Moving teams around now would just mess up fixtures in a lot of other leagues.'

Wisbech have never played in the EAPL and look likely to try and hold onto their maiden Tucker success since the league was formed in 1979.

The Harecroft Road outfit have signed New Zealand batsman Andy Lane, who is currently playing with Wisbech skipper Alan Burton in Auckland, as their overseas player for 2014. Vice-captain Sam Albutt is moving to America so Freear will become Burton's understudy.