THE race is on to sign Cheltenham Town's want-away winger, Ashley Vincent.

Carl Marston

Colchester soccer, Vincent story

By Carl Marston

THE race is on to sign Cheltenham Town's want-away winger, Ashley Vincent.

Colchester United are interested in snapping up Vincent on loan, with a view to a permanent signing this summer, and the player himself has confirmed that he met up with manager Paul Lambert for talks on Monday.

Lambert admitted, after the U's 3-2 home win over Swindon Town on Tuesday night, that he was looking to “help out” his current squad. United have 10 games remaining, and both wingers Mark Yeates (calf) and Lewis Gobern (hamstring) are currently nursing injuries.

However, Vincent would not be an immediate solution, because he too is currently sidelined with a knee injury for the next few weeks.

And the U's will face stiff competition from high-flying MK Dons, who are also keen on signing the pacey 23-year-old winger. He is set to have talks with the Milton Keynes club later this week.

Vincent has recently rejected the offer of a new contract at Cheltenham, who are struggling financially and are rock bottom of League One, with relegation an almost certainty. He would be available on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling when his contract expires at the end of the season.

“Colchester have a very nice ground. It's a nice area and I had a good talk with the manager (Lambert),” confirmed Vincent to the local press at Cheltenham.

“He (Lambert) heard I was available and had me watched. He likes the fact that I am quick and direct, and sees me as an ideal signing.”

MK Dons have a great chance of securing a second successive promotion, which would see them in the Championship next season, but the U's are an attractive proposition themselves - they are still in the hunt for the play-offs, while striker Steven Gillespie is a big friend of Vincent from his days at Whaddon Road.