Colchester United have been given the green light to snap up Sam Stockley.

The Oxford United attacking defender still has two weeks of his two-month loan period to run, but Kassam Stadium boss Ian Atkins revealed today he will not stand in Stockley's way if he gets fixed up elsewhere.

That could mean the U's snapping up, for free, a player who little more than a year ago was signed by Oxford for £150,000 from Barnet.

Sam Stockley

Whitton said: "I'd love to sign Sam. He's done a great job for us, but I've got a lot of other factors to consider.

"It could make a huge difference if we can get him for nothing, but Scott Fitzgerald, Karl Duguid and Joe Dunne are all getting closer to full fitness and when everyone is available we are well off for defenders. My main priority is to spend any money on a new striker."

Published Wednesday October 16, 2002

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