COLCHESTER United manager John Ward is confident midfielder Ian Henderson will put pen to paper on a new contract today.

The U’s boss had been due to meet the 26-year-old – whose current deal is set to expire next month – yesterday afternoon.

However, that meeting had to be delayed until this morning after Henderson’s flight back from a holiday in Las Vegas was delayed.

“I’m hopeful there will be a positive outcome,” said Ward.

“I don’t want to tempt fate too much, but we spoke on the phone before Ian left and I spoke to him when he got off the plane and from the tone of our conversations I’m confident we can sort something out.

“Ian made 30-odd starts for me last season and weighed in with his fair share of goals. His versatility is a big bonus for me too.”

Colchester have already seen midfielder and Player of the Year David Perkins reject the offer of a new contract this summer and instead sign for Championship club Barnsley.

And the Essex club’s supporters were beginning to fear that Henderson – who finished the season as the club’s leading League One goalscorer thanks to five goals from six games – would follow suit.

The former Norwich player owes a lot to Colchester after they gave him a chance to re-establish his career in England following a short stint playing in Turkey. And he has never been shy in saying how much he enjoys living in the area and how well he gets on with his team-mates.

Meanwhile, Ward says there is nothing new to report on his attempts to bolster a thin-on-the-ground front line.

Offers have been made to two out-of-contract strikers and the club is now awaiting their responses.