The striker, who has notched 14 goals for the Blues this season, has joined Spalding United, after Leiston accepted an undisclosed fee from the Lincolnshire club.

“We didn’t want to lose Ben, but Spalding have been keen on getting him for a while now, and the player has been keen on the move,” chairman Andy Crisp said.

“It’s not easy losing a player of Ben’s quality, but we feel this is the right decision for all parties.

“However, our ambitions remain the same, to push for the play-offs this season. We know we still very much have the squad to do that.

“We thank Ben for his efforts not just this season for Leiston, but in all his time with us.”

In total, Fowkes played 124 times for the Blues, notching 47 goals.