Only Scott McGleish of the out-of-contract players has yet to sign a new deal for Colchester United.
U's chief executive Marie Partner told the Evening Gazette: "All the rest - Scott Fitzgerald, Alan White, Richard McKinney, Joe Keith, Pat Baldwin and Bobby Bowry - have already re-signed.
"McGleish is the only one holding out.
U's are still waiting for Scott McGleish to agree a new deal
"He has 21 days from the third Saturday in May to respond."
Partner added that both she and U's boss Phil Parkinson are delighted that so many of the Layer Road squad have signed up again so early.
She said: "Normally we are still hanging on for one or two players until the end of June at the earliest."
Parkinson said: "I hope to know about Scotty by the end of the week."
Meanwhile, the U's boss scotched any speculation that he was on the trail of Arsenal's Republic of Ireland international striker Graham Barrett, who enjoyed a highly-successful loan spell at Layer Road in the latter half of the 2001-2002 season.
Barrett, who was being watched again by former U's chief Steve Whitton at the start of last season, is reported to have signed a two-year deal with First Division Coventry City after learning that he had no future with the Gunners.
Parkinson said, as he continues his search for new players: "Barrett wasn't going to be one of ours anyway."
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Published Wednesday, May 28, 2003
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