COLCHESTER United striker Chris Iwelumo has revealed that other clubs are interested in signing him, although he is happy to stay at Layer Road and so keep spearheading the U's bid for promotion.

COLCHESTER United striker Chris Iwelumo has revealed that other clubs are interested in signing him, although he is happy to stay at Layer Road and so keep spearheading the U's bid for promotion, writes Carl Marston.

Iwelumo headed home his 14th goal of the season to seal a 2-0 win at mid-table Walsall on Saturday. The big Scotsman remains on course to become the first Colchester player to bag 20 league goals in a season since Tony Adcock's 24-goal haul of 1984-85.

However, the impressive scoring record of the former Stoke and Brighton striker has not gone unnoticed in the Coca-Cola League, particularly in the Championship, since the transfer window reopened in January.

“I'm aware that other clubs have talked to the manager,” confessed Iwelumo.

“But I want to stay at Layer Road. I'm just delighted to be playing every week, which is something I have not always been used to throughout my career.

“Before, I was in-and-out of the side at my other clubs. The main reason I signed for Colchester was the knowledge that I would be playing every week, and I'm loving the fact that I'm playing virtually every minute of every match.

“The gaffer has spoken of a few clubs being interested in me, but I want to get in a good, whole season under my belt. I feel that I've made progress as a player since I've been at Colchester,” added Iwelumo.

The U's 6ft 3ins target-man nodded home from point-blank range with two minutes left on the clock, after Greg Halford had flicked on Kevin Watson's corner.

It was a similar goal to the U's opener, from which Halford again provided the flick for Neil Danns to poke into an unguarded net.

Iwelumo continued: “Neil (Danns) has been fantastic for us. In fact, he's one of the best all-round players that I've ever trained with during my career.

“Greg (Halford) is also a very special player. He's scored a lot of goals this season, but he's also set up several goals for others.

“We were very effective today. We battled like at Swindon (1-0 defeat on Boxing Day), although we got the opposite result. That was due to our determination and fighting spirit.

“Our back four have been solid all season, and they were excellent again. I felt we were going through the motions a bit in the first-half, but we came good in the second.

“I had gone four games without a goal, and that barren spell was beginning to prey on my mind. The gaffer took me to one side on Friday, and told me just to do the basics, and not worry about my recent lack of goals. He was right,” concluded Iwelumo.

Remarkably, not only has Iwelumo started every league game this season, but he has also been on the pitch for every minute of the League One campaign.

That's a superb record.