Michael Bailey New Lowestoft Town defender Greg Crane admitted it was an easy decision to move - after he found out about his King's Lynn future in the EDP. Crane and Wroxham defender Matthew Halliday were unveiled this week by the Trawlerboys management duo, Micky Chapman and Ady Gallagher, as they prepare for life in Ryman League Division One North.

Michael Bailey

New Lowestoft Town defender Greg Crane admitted it was an easy decision to move - after he found out about his King's Lynn future in the EDP.

Crane and Wroxham defender Matthew Halliday were unveiled this week by the Trawlerboys management duo, Micky Chapman and Ady Gallagher, as they prepare for life in Ryman League Division One North.

And Crane, a former Linnets captain and the man who lifted the Ridgeon's League trophy in 2006 as Lowestoft skipper during his first spell at the club, said the decision to return was made easy for him by new King's Lynn boss, Carl Heggs.

"When a manager turns round in the paper and says that he doesn't intend to ring any of his players or keep any of the ones from last year, you have to start looking elsewhere," said the 24-year-old. "I still keep in touch with some of the Lowestoft players and keep an eye on how they've been doing and Mick and Ady were straight on the phone to me. One of the reasons why I left Lowestoft to begin with was the fact that they weren't going up. I'm an ambitious guy, I want to win things, I like to push on and challenge myself. When Lowestoft decided they were going to move up a league I spoke to Chappo and Ady and they reiterated what they wanted to do and the way they want to go about it, so this again was another reason why I wanted to come back to Lowestoft."

Crane had a brief spell at Cambridge United before he joined King's Lynn in 2006, helping them win promotion to Conference North, and he will be joined at Lowestoft by fellow Norwich City Academy product Matthew Halliday, who has also completed his switch from Wroxham to Crown Meadow.

The 22-year-old, who has also spent time at Conference side Histon since being released by the Canaries last summer, said: "Going up a level was a big factor in me signing. Everyone wants to play at as high a level as they can, so with the club going up the desire was there and I'm really looking forward to the new season." The pair were regular reserve team-mates at Carrow Road and both are well acquainted with Lowestoft's remaining coaching staff - Dave Carolan and Craig Fleming. Crane added: "Dave Carolan and Flem aren't new to me as I was with them at Norwich. I've had Dave run me into the ground before and Flem alongside me."

Joint Town boss Micky Chapman is delighted with Lowestoft's first summer recruits.

"They are a couple of really good signings, who are both quality players. We've got a good squad anyway and after a great season last year we've moved up to a new level, and at that level you've always got to look to improve. I think these two signings show the type of quality that we are actually speaking to at the moment."