Manager Steve Whitton has revealed that he would like to bring in at least one new face before this season's transfer deadline.

With the March 28 deadline just three weeks away, the U's boss said he is still 'very keen' to fill the left-sided defensive spot vacated by former skipper Simon Clarke in mid-January.

Whitton said: "We couldn't have envisaged how much we have missed Simon.

"I can't put a value on his importance to our game.

"A natural left-sided player like him will give us the kind of freedom we are looking for to get out on that side of the pitch.

"Other than that I am very happy with the players I've already got."

Whitton said he has already been rebuffed twice by First Division Rotherham in his attempts to lure big Guy Branston back to Layer Road on loan.

The giant ex-Leicester City defender has already enjoyed two loan spells with the U's, but Rotherham are only prepared to sell him.

Published Thursday, March 7, 2002