Colchester United Wembley winner Paul Abrahams has turned down a chance to stay in the Football League with Exeter City.

The 25-year-old, a key member of the U's promotion play-off final win over Torquay United 14 months ago, revealed today he has rejected a 12-month contract to join the Third Division, Devon club.

"The door is not completely closed to me at Exeter," he said when explaining his decision to remain in Football League limbo.

One of nine U's players handed a free transfer at the end of last season, Abrahams added: "I am grateful to Exeter for their interest, but I wasn't convinced moving all the way down there would have been the right thing to do.

"Twelve months is such a short time in football and by the time you've arranged to rent your property here and find a house to rent down there, the season could be practically over.

"Furthermore, there are many more things for me to think about too. My wife Verity is expecting our first child and currently has a good job in Colchester. Our two mothers are living in the town too.

"But if the Exeter deal had been better we'd have moved down there with little hesitation."

Abrahams, hero of 174 League and cup outings for the U's, said Exeter have told him they will take another look at him if he fancies a move later in the season.

A lack of "good" offers from other League clubs, has left the former Layer Road favourite a worried man.

He said: "Ideally I want to stay in the League, but this summer has opened my eyes in many ways."

Exeter offered Abrahams a contract after he impressed Grecians boss Peter Fox on the recent tour of Scotland where he played against Brechin City. He also played another match against Portsmouth.

Earlier this week he played for Nationwide Conference club Kettering in a 3-3 draw with Nottingham Forest where his former U's team-mate Nicky Haydon scored one of the Poppies goals.

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