Wisbech Town boss Steve Appleby has admitted it has been a turbulent close season at the Ridgeons Premier Division club.

Appleby was powerless to stop captain Paul Cousins and Callum Reed joining local rivals King's Lynn with Lea Jordan and Andy Furnell also departing from the side which lifted last season's League Cup and finished in the top six.

'It's the worst summer I've known,' he said. 'I've literally not had a day where I haven't been on the phone trying to keep players, trying to convince players to join or meeting players.

'I've had enough about the continual rumours on the (fans) forum about untrue things like the reserves' budget. Everything we've done, including sorting pre-season friendlies, has been questioned and it's just been one thing after another. I'm a bit tired of continually being questioned.

'This is all on the back of winning a cup and finishing fourth. I have thought to myself what on earth would it be like if we won the league? I've even tried to be as honest and as open as I can be on the forum as well and that hasn't seemed to help either.'

Midfielder Adam Weston has also reportedly agreed a move to UCL Premier outfit Deeping.

'I'm a bit in the dark about Adam,' said Appleby. 'He had an up and down time last year with injuries and never really got going although he did well for a bit. He texted me at the end of the season and said he'd enjoyed it and couldn't wait for pre-season. I've tried to contact him two or three times and then I see in the paper that he's agreed to join Deeping Rangers.

'I'm not too disappointed though because although he's got fantastic potential we didn't really see it. You can't miss what you haven't had.'

Appleby is confident of completing a move for Boston United's teenage centre-back Simon Ashton to join new signings Liam Nimmo and Neal Spafford.

'Simon's only 19 but he's gone up in my estimation for how magnificently he's conducted himself. He's been really, really refreshing,' said Appleby. 'My Boston connections helped us get him but he wanted to know about the club, myself and then asked to take some time to think about it all which I respected.'

Appleby believes the new arrivals can help his side push on.

'We've brought in three players this summer who have played at a higher level,' he said. 'It's a statement of our intent and I want people here who want to play for this club and do well.'