Goalkeeper Danny Gay has today returned to The Walks after signing for King's Lynn Town.

Gay, 30, played for the Linnets, his hometown team, in 2009 before the original club was wound up in the High Court.

The keeper had pleaded for common sense to prevail as Lynn looked set to go to the wall during that horrible winter almost three years ago.

He even remained loyal until the very end and was one of just three players, including former boss Carl Heggs and fellow keeper Ally McAnally, to remain with Lynn until their doors were shut for not paying an outstanding tax bill of more than �65,000.

However, Town boss Gary Setchell has now convinced him to leave another Step Four side, AFC Sudbury, and start a new chapter with the reformed Walks outfit - which he did this afternoon by signing Evo-Stik Division One South forms.

The former Norwich City youth, academy and reserve team player, who made 11 appearances in the Football League for Southend United, returns having gained a huge reputation in the non-league game since being released by the Shrimpers in 2003.

The shot-stopper starred for Hornchurch, Braintree Town, Bishop's Stortford and Heybridge Swifts before landing a dream trial at Leeds United in 2007.

However, his route back into the professional game - which once saw him placed on standby for the Wales' Under-21 squad - was quickly blocked and the experienced keeper joined Chelmsford City.

After helping them win the Ryman League and securing promotion to the Conference South (Blue Square South) the much-travelled Gay - who spent the summer of 2009 on trial back with the Canaries - found himself playing at The Walks in the Unibond Premier Division under Heggs.

Following the Linnets' demise, the PE teacher joined Needham Market where he won the Ridgeons Premier Division (now Thurlow Nunn Premier Division) before joining Sudbury at the end of the following season - where he stayed until Setchell talked him into coming home.

Gay's arrival appeared set to result in Lynn's current number one, Alex Street, going out on loan to Holbeach United.

However, after the keeper, known as Pedro, wrote on Twitter that he hadn't agreed to join the Tigers, Setchell - who had declared that's where he was going until the end of the season - said: 'Alex had verbally agreed to go on loan to Holbeach after I'd given him the reasons why I wanted him to.

'But now he's had a change of heart and wants time to think about his options.'

• For more on Gay's return see tomorrow's paper.