Colchester United's forgotten striker Mark Sale was set to sign for ambitious non-league club Rushden and Diamonds today in a deal worth £30,000.

And that signals a handsome profit of £6,300 for the U's who paid out £23,500 for the much-travelled 28-year-old former Stoke, Preston and Mansfield forward in March 1997.

Sale, who still had a year of his existing contract to run, has been out of favour at Layer Road for several months and could have left the club on a free transfer at the end of the 1999-2000 season under the Bosman ruling.

He was due to complete the move at Rushden's multi-million pound 7,000 all-seater Nene Park Stadium this afternoon.

"It's a good deal all-round," said delighted U's boss Mick Wadsworth.

"It's good for us, it's good for Mark and it's good for Rushden as well. Mark had declared a wish to move nearer to his Staffordshire home before I arrived at Colchester.

"I inherited that position and the club has been doing what it can to help him achieve what he wants. Mark is a nice lad and he has served this club well.

"We have been able to make a profit on him which is good business for the club considering the fact he would have been out of contract at the end of the coming season and could have gone for nothing.

"If everything goes well for him he could be back in the Football League again this time next year because Rushden appear to have plenty of money to throw around.

"Along with Doncaster Rovers they will be starting the new season as favourites to win the Nationwide Conference."

Sale played made around 100 first team appearances during his stay at Layer Road and was a key member of the U's two Wembley final squads.

Wadsworth will be taking a strong squad to Dagenham and Redbridge for tonight's pre-season friendly against the Ryman League premier club.

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