Outspoken Colchester United boss Steve Wignall has hit out at the "greed and hypocrisy" he claims is threatening to cripple small Football League clubs like the U's.

Wignall was speaking out following the intrusion of players agents and the collapse of several transfer and loan deals as he desperately bids to guide the U's clear of the second division danger zone.

The U's are now staring straight down the relegation barrel after a run of nine League and cup games without a win - the latest coming in the shape of an error-ridden 3-1 home defeat against Wrexham on Friday night.

The result was just the final straw for Wignall on a day when his hopes of signing Lincoln City goal-ace Colin Alcide for a lucrative five-figure fee were dashed by the player's huge wage demands and the "impossible" terms put to the U's by his agent.

"It's about time fans started pointing their fingers at the players instead of always condemning the clubs," said Wignall.

"We made Alcide a good offer, but his agent came back to us quoting figures twice as much as my players are on.

"If we had given him what he asked for he would have been the highest-paid person in our club.

"We were also informed that Alcide has already rejected an improved offer to stay at Lincoln. We were insulted further when the agent told us he would be looking for a percentage of any fee if the transfer went through."

Alcide's rejection comes only days after the U's were snubbed by Scarborough striker Neil Campbell who looked set to sign an 18-month deal to come to Layer Road until the intervention of his agent.

"Football is becoming very silly," said Wignall. "Agents aren't just advising players these days - they are deciding their futures for them!

"They can't carry on holding clubs to ransom like this. The money simply isn't there in the lower divisions.

"It's all about pounds-shillings-and-pence now, but players and agents are in danger of killing the goose that laid the golden egg and that could come sooner than we all think."

Alcide's snub was just the latest in a long line of players who have been approached by Wignall to join the U's, but he said: "For everyone we mention in the paper there are three or four more on top of that.

"In recent days I have put in a substantial bid to sign Barnet striker Scott McGleish on a permanent transfer and his team-mate, midfielder Sean Devine, on a loan deal.

"Nothing has come back from Barnet in the case of either player.

"I have also inquired about Wigan midfielder Efetobore Sodje; Brentford's transfer listed defender Paul Watson and Lincoln central defender Kevin Austin to no avail.

"We are informed that players are available, but when you try to bring them in on loan clubs are reluctant to let them out - it's a case of buy them or else."

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