JAMIE Cureton would love to stay at Colchester United, and the Essex club want him to make the move permanent.But the final say lies with Swindon Town, who entertain the U's in a League One clash in Wiltshire today.

By Carl Marston

JAMIE Cureton would love to stay at Colchester United, and the Essex club want him to make the move permanent.

But the final say lies with Swindon Town, who entertain the U's in a League One clash in Wiltshire today.

Cureton arrived at Layer Road on loan from the Robins at the end of October, since when the U's have been unbeaten.

The former Norwich City, Reading and QPR front-runner has contributed seven goals in just eight starts, but he is set to return to the County Ground next week, following the New Year's Eve trip to Brentford.

His loan spell expires at the end of the year.

U's manager Phil Parkinson admitted: “It's no secret that we would love Jamie (Cureton) to stay with us. Jamie wants to keep playing for us but in the end it's not down to us, or him.

“It's up to Swindon to make the final decision. We have not heard from them yet.

“We have done very well since Jamie's been with us, but we managed to win against Northampton, Rotherham and MK Dons without him, and we know others can score.

“Gareth Williams is looking much sharper again in training, and he was unlucky not to score last Tuesday,” added Parkinson.

Cureton made the move from QPR to Swindon last summer, as indeed did fellow striker Tony Thorpe, who likewise found it difficult to settle at his new club. Thorpe was released from his contract last week.