A BOLD bid by IT Sports Wigginton squash team to lure world number one Peter Nicol to the club has failed.

But the ambitious Yorkshire Squash League premier division club are far from crestfallen as they have landed the services of world number five player John White.

As revealed exclusively in Saturday's Evening Press, the Yorkshire Cup holders announced a double raid for Nicol and White.

The latter has now taken up the club's offer and will go straight into the squad for tomorrow's clash away to keenest rivals Pontefract.

IT Sports company owner and the Wigginton club's driving force Ian Tooms hailed the recruitment of White as 'fantastic'.

He added he was disappointed not to have been able to also welcome Nicol on board, but the first Briton to win the world squash title declined the audacious approach from Wigginton because of his hectic schedule as the world's leading player.

Explained Tooms: "Peter's agent thanked us for the offer but said Peter could not accept. However, we are absolutely delighted to have got John in.

"I could not believe it when he agreed to play for us. We've sorted all the cash arrangements out and he is going to give it a go. He is the world's number five and it just shows what you can achieve if you put your mind to it."

White is expected to make his debut tomorrow at Pontefract, where IT Sports Wigginton will be seeking to notch their fourth successive win in the new campaign.

"Pontefract are our biggest rivals last season and to have John White in the squad for the tomorrow's game at Pontefract is just fantastic," enthused Tooms.

Updated: 11:23 Tuesday, October 01, 2002