FELIXSTOWE & Walton United club captain Rhys Barber has left the Seasiders to link up once more with Danny Laws at Needham Market.

Barber, who spent six years at Needham, left the Ryman League Division One North club in the summer after failing to agree terms and had trials with Bury Town.

He subsequently signed for Felixstowe, who lifted themselves off the foot of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division following Saturday’s 4-1 win at home to fellow strugglers FC Clacton, which was the first match under the new management regime of Rob Charles and Kevin O’Donnell.

After deciding last week to rejoin the Marketmen Barber agreed to see out the first week of the new management and played his final game in Saturday’s win, although the club have retained his Thurlow Nunn League registration by mutual agreement with both Barber and Needham manager Danny Laws.

While Barber leaves joining from Grundisburgh will be Andy Crump, who first played for the Seasiders a decade ago as a 16-year-old and now rejoins his home-town club.

Joint manager Rob Charles said: “We are obviously disappointed to lose Rhys but fully understand his reasons for returning to Needham and we would never wish to stand in the way of a player wanting to play at as high a level as possible.

“Both Kevin and I would like to thank Rhys for his time with the club and wish him well for the future.”

Charles said of Crump: “Andy is an excellent utility player who can be effective up front or at the heart of the defence and is a player I have followed with interest. With Rhys departing Andy will add strength at the back and will hopefully be involved on Wednesday at Ipswich Wanderers in some capacity as will other players who did not get match time on Saturday.”