Mick Wadsworth has pledged his future to the U's and denied he is in line for the vacant Barnsley job.

Barnsley is Wadsworth's home town and he has strong connections with the Tykes.

But today he said: "As far as I'm aware, permission to talk to me has not been sought by Barnsley. I'm under contract to Colchester and I'm happy here and want to see things through.

"I suppose I may have been on any short-list simply because I'm well known there and I know the chairman very well. But I personally think Eric Winstanley should get the job.

"He has been caretaker manager twice and is an outstanding coach."

Dave Bassett and Mick McCarthy are the front runners for the job at the Division One club.

Wadsworth has been delighted with the response given to him by the U's supporters.

He said: "The fans have been fantastic. They have given me a chance and have got behind the players home and away.

"We have been very good at home and the crowd have got behind us but our away form has been poor. The new players coming in have been terrific and have shown how to battle.

"I would like us to play even better and even more attractive football."

"We are probably already safe but if Wigan beat Northampton that will be it. So we can enjoy Lincoln though I still want to win both games."

Tickets for the U's game with Lincoln at Layer Road are selling fast with seats virtually sold out.

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