Jamie Moralee has become Colchester United manager Mick Wadsworth's first new signing for next season.

And 28-year-old Moralee was quickly followed into Layer Road yesterday by West Ham teenager Joey Keith.

Former Crystal Palace, Millwall, Watford and Crewe Alexandra striker Moralee has been snapped up from third division Brighton and Hove Albion on a free transfer.

Morally has intially signed for a season. Wadsworth said when explaining his decision to sign Moralee: "I remember him as a very outstanding young player with Millwall. We watched him several times during last season.

"He is very sharp in and around the penalty box and his hold-up play is exceptional - a quality we were sadly lacking in the season just gone.

"Jamie was an outstanding prospect as a young player with Millwall and was sold on to Watford for £450,000 around five years ago before his career became blighted by injuries.

"Last season was his first full season for sometime as he battled to shrug off a string of injuries and has probably used Brighton to get back to full fitness and match sharpness.

"As the lad is over 24-years-old he is free to join us under the Bosman ruling."

Wandsworth-born Moralee comes to Colchester with almost ten seasons of Football League experience plus around 200 first team outings for Palace, Millwall, Watford, Crewe and Brighton under his belt.

Promising Hammers youngster Keith, 19, has yet to make his Football League debut.

Meanwhile, Wadsworth said negotiations with experienced Charlton Athletic and Wales international defender Mark Bowen and the U's former Carlisle central defender Stephane Pounewatchy are still going on.

New terms are also being offered to out of contract striker Karl Duguid and although they are now free agents to move anywhere they want to because they are over 24-years-old the club will also be offering new contracts to Carl Emberson, Jason Dozzell, Paul Buckle, Aaron Skelton, Ian Wiles and Steve Germain.

U's new signing Jamie Moralee. Manager Mick Wadsworth has swooped early to sign the 28-year-old on a free transfer.

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