Alan White threw down a challenge to his Colchester United captain Scott Fitzgerald today - 'I want your skipper's armband'.
But Fitzgerald insisted: "Alan's going to have to wait until the manager takes it off me.
"The captain's job is mine as long as the gaffer wants me to do it.
"Having said that, I do think Whitey is a great bloke and a whole-hearted player who would lead the side by example."
Big Layer Road favourite White, a central defender alongside Fitzgerald in the U's back four, told the Evening Gazette: "I would love to skipper the side someday.
"But I know Fitz is the right man for the role as long as he's around.
"That doesn't stop me from letting him know that I'm treading on his shirt tails to do the job though.
"It's what any professional footballer who's been playing for a while should want.
"Skippering the side is a natural progression as far as I'm concerned.
"As a young player the first thing you want is to break into the reserves, then you should be looking to break into the first team, then make that first team position your own with the captaincy the next step a few years along the road."
U's boss Phil Parkinson was sitting firmly on the fence, however. He said: "I'll leave this little situation well and truly in Fitz and Whitey's corner."
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Published Wednesday, May 21, 2003
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