Former Bury Town defender Tom Bullard said the decision to leave Ram Meadow for Leiston was the toughest decision of his life.

The 27-year-old, who has been at Ram Meadow since he was 16 and has played near to 400 games, will be joined by Craig Parker, who has signed a new one-year deal at Victory Road.

“I have been contemplating for the last couple of weeks,” he said.

“After talking to Leiston, I was impressed with the club’s ambition and I really feel I have made the right decision.

“I want to play higher and that was my main question to them (Leiston), did they have ambitions to play in Conference South?

“That is their ambition and I am looking forward to playing there under Steve Ball.”

He added: “It was the hardest decision of my life though, leaving Bury, and it was horrible telling the chairman, Russell Ward, who has also become a very good friend.”

Ball, who has been chasing Bullard for a couple of weeks, added: “It was a massive move for Tom to leave Bury,” he said.

“He has been such a great servant and I am over the moon to have signed him.

“I still have two or three more targets but this is a big coup for us.”

FULL STORY in tomorrow’s EADT and Ipswich Star