LAWRIE Wilson has been released by Colchester United after enduring a frustrating season on the fringe of the first-team squad.And star players Chris Iwelumo and Richard Garcia are both likely to wait for offers elsewhere, before making decisions on whether to sign new deals at Layer Road.

By Carl Marston

LAWRIE Wilson has been released by Colchester United after enduring a frustrating season on the fringe of the first-team squad.

And star players Chris Iwelumo and Richard Garcia are both likely to wait for offers elsewhere, before making decisions on whether to sign new deals at Layer Road.

Former Charlton Athletic trainee Wilson signed for the U's last summer, following the Essex club's promotion to the Championship.

He enjoyed a good pre-season, and delivered steady displays in the Reserves throughout the campaign. However, he was never able to break into the first team, despite being named in an 18-man squad on a few occasions.

Manager Geraint Williams revealed last night: “Lawrie (Wilson) has been unfortunate, but hopefully he will do a good job elsewhere. He's been a good professional and sometimes a change of scenery works well.

“Greg (Halford) made the right-back position his own early in the season. I felt that Greg really needed a settled position.

“He was an attacking right-back, and the team became used to that, so when Greg left (to join Reading for a £2.5m fee in January), I felt that we needed another attacking full-back to take his place, so that's why Karl (Duguid) took on the role.

“John (White) can also play in this position, so Lawrie had been pushed further back,” added Williams.

Meanwhile, target man Iwelumo and right-midfielder Garcia are the only two players who are out of contract this summer. The rest of the squad are already under contract for at least another season.

Iwelumo has been a revelation over the last two seasons, scoring 19 goals to help United to automatic promotion from League One in 2005-06, and then weighing in with 18 goals last term.

His fruitful partnership with Jamie Cureton yielded 24 goals between them last season, and was a major reason why the U's finished the campaign in a superb 10th spot. However, the Scotsman's two-year deal is now up, and he could well accept a better offer at another Championship club.

Garcia also enjoyed his best season for the U's in 2006/07, having moved from West Ham three years ago. The Australian is also hedging his bets at the moment.

Williams confirmed: “It's not that we haven't been discussing terms with both players. Negotiations have been going on for some time, because we were aware of the situation.

“But these are the only two out-of-contract, which makes a change from previous years, when we have often had several players out-of-contract in the summer.”