Giant Walsall target man Brett Angell and young West Ham striker Richard Garcia have turned down the chance of a move to Colchester United.

U's boss Steve Whitton revealed on Monday that his attempts to bring the two players to Layer Road on loan had been unsuccessful.

Whitton said, after his side lost 2-1 to a last-minute goal at Blackpool - their fourth defeat in five games: "We need to try something different and these two players would have given us other options.

"I offered them both a chance to join us initially on loan. Angell has turned down several other clubs as well, while the Hammers wouldn't release Garcia." Find out more about Colchester United FC Much-travelled 33-year-old former Southend United goal-getter Angell boasts a wealth of experience and well over 150 League goals for a number of clubs.

They include Portsmouth, Derby County, Everton, Sunderland, Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion, Stockport, Notts County and Preston, but he is currently out of the Walsall side.

His brother, former Portsmouth central defender Darren Angell, experienced one of the shortest U's careers when he joined the Layer Road club on loan from Portsmouth in December 1987 and was injured after just 30 minutes of his debut.

Australian Garcia, 20, has yet to break into the West Ham first team and is now fully recovered from a broken ankle suffered after playing 18 games on loan with Leyton Orient last season.

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