Wroxham boss David Batch has waived a seven-day approach for defender Paul Cousins, who looks set to return to Wisbech Town.

The Fenland club made their move on Tuesday after discovering centre-half Stacy Cartwright will miss the rest of the season through injury.

Defender Cousins left the Fenmen in the summer to join arch-rivals King's Lynn Town, but then signed for Wroxham in October after an internal dispute at the Linnets.

It's believed that Cousins, 30, is in advanced talks with Fenmen chief Steve Appleby, and would favour a move back to Wisbech to be closer to his west Norfolk home.

'Paul (Cousins) has been a big help for us stepping in for Damian Hilton when he broke his toe, and Josh Carus when he was unavailable due to work commitments,' said Batch.

'He has been travelling to our matches alone all the way from Wisbech, and this I'm sure is a drain. He will earn much more in wages and have less travelling playing for Wisbech – a club I like and know well, but Paul will have to weigh that up against staying and challenging for honours on two fronts with us.'

Batch added: 'I will be delighted if he chooses that he wants to take the challenge and remain part of our squad. If he doesn't we wish him well, and now Hilton and Carus are fully fit I would hope we can return to the form we were showing before their absence, when we kept nine clean sheets in 14 games.'