BRIGHTON & Hove Albion could capitalise on Colchester United’s lack of manager by swooping for out-of-contract David Prutton.

BRIGHTON & Hove Albion could capitalise on Colchester United’s lack of manager by swooping for out-of-contract David Prutton.

The 28-year-old midfielder scored two goals in 17 appearances for the U’s having signing on a short-term deal in January.

He was offered a new contract by Aidy Boothroyd at the end of the campaign, but that deal may have to be put on hold after Boothroyd moved to Championship club Coventry City last week.

And that may leave the door wide open for Colchester’s League One rivals Brighton to nip in and beat them to Prutton’s signature.

The Seagulls have just sold influential captain Andrew Crofts to Norwich City and manager Gus Poyet – who worked with Prutton at Leeds United – sees the versatile midfielder as the ideal replacement.

Poyet, monitoring events closely from a scouting mission in South America and speaking just before Crofts confirmed departure, said of Prutton: “He is a player I like a lot and, depending on what is happening with the midfielders, especially Crofty, we will see.”