Colchester United are waiting in the wings to pocket £1,000,000 windfall if Charlton Athletic are forced to sell former Layer Road favourite Mark Kinsella.

The south London Premiership new boys are reported to have turned down a £3,000,000 bid from Blackburn boss Brian Kidd for their influential Republic of Ireland international.

And in-form Leeds United - managed by former Republic of Ireland international David O'Leary - are also believed to be heading the queue for the 26-year-old twinkle-toed Dubliner currently rated in the £3,000,000-£5,000,000 class.

Kinsella said yesterday (Thursday): "I hope Colchester do eventually make some big money out of me. I have heard that Blackburn had a bid for me turned down, but I know nothing of Leeds' interest.

"I haven't asked for a move and at this stage I have no intentions to. The only thoughts in my mind are to make sure Charlton stay up in the Premiership.

"A lot of people didn't give us a hope at the start of the season and I want to kick them all in the teeth and prove them all wrong."

Charlton are certain to come under increasing pressure to sell their all-action promotion winning captain if their Premiership survival bid does go sadly wrong.

And having battled so hard for a chance to play in the top flight former U's golden boy Kinsella - snapped up by Charlton for a snip £150,000 two-and-a-half-years ago -is desperate to stay there.

He said: "If Charlton want to sell me and accept an offer from another club to benefit themselves then of course I would seriously think about it.

"If you twisted my arm to then choose between Blackburn or Leeds I would probably opt for Leeds because of the lure of playing in Europe.

"Everyone starts out with ambitions to play for one of the big clubs - I'm no different."

If the size of a £multi-million bid is right, Charlton may have little choice but to sell their star player and with the March 25 transfer deadline only ten days away that could be sweet music to the Colchester coffers.

The U's stand to pocket 25 per cent of any sell-on fee and Kinsella said: "Big money in the millions would do the U's nicely. I would love to see the club benefit out of me.

"They and they alone showed great faith in me when I came over from Home Farm ten years ago and they gave me a great start in life."

U's boss Mick Wadsworth greeted the news of a prospective sale as: "Sound business by Colchester when Kinsella's transfer originally took place. I'm sure the club will welcome a big pay out.

"Of course I'd like to see some of the money come my way to strengthen my squad and the chairman and board of directors are very supportive of my desires and plans for the future of this club."

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