Colchester United manager Steve Whitton will be working hard this week in a frantic bid to salvage the club's pre-season friendly programme.

The U's warm-up programme, due to kick off on Saturday, July 15, is disintegrating by the day following Ford United's threatened call-off of the opening game and the collapse of the four-team Bobby Moore Cup involving the U's, Ipswich, Southend and Leyton Orient.

Colchester were due to play Ford, Ipswich and Southend, plus Canvey Island, Chesham and Heybridge in their six-match pre-season build-up to the 2000-2001 Second Division season.

And although Ipswich are still prepared to honour their aborted Bobby Moore fixture, the games against Southend and Ford were today (Monday) in jeopardy.

U's boss Steve Whitton said: "Ford are claiming their pitch will not now be ready in time, so all being well, I am trying to fix up a match with Bishop's Stortford of the Ryman League instead.

"The Southend match, set to be played on Sunday, August 6, is not completely dead yet, but if that game also goes by the board I am hoping to play Sittingbourne of the Dr Martens League probably on the Monday."

Whitton, meanwhile, is still hoping to secure the signature of his out-of-contract defender Aaron Skelton who is also interesting Luton Town.

Whitton said: "Skelts has asked me not to rule him out of my plans while Luton try to put together a package.

"I want to keep him, but I can't wait forever."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.