Sam Stockley was ready to pledge his future to Colchester United -if the right deal can be worked out.

The popular, all-action utility man is thrashing out permanent transfer talks with U's boss Steve Whitton that will tie him to Layer Road for the remainder of this season and the whole of next.

Stockley has just two games at Huddersfield on Saturday and Barnsley at home next Tuesday to run on the second month of his current loan deal from Third Division side Oxford United.

Only a few snags are preventing the 25-year-old former Southampton defender, bought for £150,000 from Barnet 15 months ago but now available on a free transfer, from becoming a fully-fledged U's player by the end of the week.

Stockley said: "I want to make this move permanent. I've been waiting six weeks for something to happen. I'm so happy.

"My football is important to me, but I've got my wife Donna and little boy to think about.

"I want to work out a life for me and my family and if I'm moving them down to Colchester my deal has got to be right."

Published Thursday October 24, 2002

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