Setchell ‘absolutely fuming’ at reports he’s trying to bring Cousins back to King’s Lynn Town

King's Lynn Town boss Gary Setchell has angrily rejected reports that he is interested in bringing defender Paul Cousins back to The Walks.

The Linnets boss said he was 'absolutely fuming' about a story that suggested he has approached the Wisbech Town centre-back about returning to Lynn.

Cousins left the club under a cloud last October after he was sacked by King's Lynn following an internal dispute that also saw joint-manager Kevin Boon quit.

Setchell insisted that the media storm that surrounded the pair's departure means he simply wouldn't bring Cousins – who is currently playing for his hometown club Wisbech again – back to Lynn.

'I'd be hanging a noose around my neck by bringing him back here,' said Setchell.

'He's the last player I would try and bring back to the football club. No disrespect to him as a player but because of what happened re-signing him is the biggest no-no. It wouldn't happen over my dead body.

'I've had no dialogue with Cousi, at all, for six to eight weeks. That's a fact. I've known Paul for four to five years and he's wished me luck a few times but that's as far as it's gone. We've remained in touch, that happens in football, but him returning here has never been mentioned.'

The 29-year-old stunned Fenmen fans last summer when he left Steve Appleby's side to link-up with his former Wisbech boss Setchell at the club's fiercest rivals.

But he returned to the Ridgeons Premier Division side in January following short-lived spells at Soham Town Rangers and Wroxham following his departure from Lynn.

Setchell said: 'I called Paul yesterday to find out where the story had come from and he said he was as bewildered as I was.

'He said he doesn't know where the quotes, reportedly from him, have come from because he hasn't spoken to a reporter. It's total rubbish.

'I've been trying to get to the bottom of it because I'm really not happy about it. It couldn't have come at a worse time, days ahead of our cup final, and I feel like it's a deliberate attempt to stir up trouble for King's Lynn and get supporters gossiping.

'Paul's disappointed because he doesn't want trouble rearing it's head again. It was a difficult time and we don't want it dragged all up again. I've had to ring the chairman (Buster Chapman) and Robbie (Harris) to let them know there's no truth in it.

'I don't even know what league we'll be in next season or our budget so I haven't even sat down with him to discuss anything yet.'