Carl Emberson has turned down a new deal to stay at Colchester United.

And as a result Charlton Athletic keeper Andy Petterson could be on his way back to Layer Road.

The door for Petterson's return was thrown wide open today when Wembley promotion play-off hero Emberson rejected the terms of a new and improved contract with the U's.

Emberson ran the same gauntlet before re-signing at the last minute just before the start of the U's first season in Division Two.

Petterson, 29, finished last season as Charlton's regular keeper in the Premiership, but he is now a free agent following his release from the Valley two weeks ago.

Known as the "Freemantle Wind" because of his Australian roots, the former Luton, Ipswich, Bradford and Plymouth keeper has already made five League appearances for the U's during a short loan spell at Layer Road three years ago.

Yesterday U's boss Mick Wadsworth said, when revealing his interest in Petterson: "He is one of the keepers I have always liked the look of. But Embo is a good lad and I want to keep him.

"Unfortunately he turned down a new and improved contract yesterday. Basically it's up to Embo now and hopefully the issue can be resolved.

"But if I find another keeper in the next week he might not get the chance to re-sign, because I am very keen to push young Andy Walker through the ranks next season.

"The lad was outstanding on his League debut in our last game of the season at Blackpool and I am very keen to give youth a chance wherever and whenever I can."

Emberson, one of only five goalkeepers to make more than 150 League appearances for the U's, was a near ever-present in the first team until until a badly broken finger - suffered in a training accident - forced him to miss the last six games.

Lomana Tresor Lua Lua was due at Layer Road this afternoon to rubberstamp his new one-year extension which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2001.

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