DARLINGTON striker Alun Armstrong looks set for a summer move to Colchester United.

Quakers boss David Hodgson revealed at the weekend that Armstrong has received an offer to play for the League One side next season.

The 30-year-old's eight-month spell with Quakers came to a disappointing end when he limped off with a recurrence of a hip injury after just 34 minutes of Saturday's 3-1 win over Cheltenham.

The former Ipswich forward, who still lives in Suffolk, is out of contract and is keen to remain in the area, where his family is settled.

Colchester boss Phil Parkinson was keen to sign Armstrong in September, before the player agreed to join Quakers following his summer release from Ipswich.

And now, after Armstrong informed Hodgson that he will not be moving closer to the North-East, Colchester - just a ten minute drive from the player's home - are in pole position to secure his services.

"Alun has received an offer from Colchester and he will be speaking to them in the next couple of weeks," Hodgson confirmed.

"Ideally, it would have been nice if Alun moved back up here, but at the end of the day he has a family to put first and we understand that."

After failing to prove his fitness to Ipswich boss Joe Royle, Armstrong moved to the Williamson Motors Stadium in the hope of attracting interest from prospective buyers.

However, despite scoring 11 goals in 33 starts, Armstrong's stay in the North-East has been hindered by various injury setbacks. Short of fitness, Armstrong scored just one goal in his last 15 appearances for the club.

"It's a shame, although Alun has scored some very important goals for us this season," said Hodgson.

Ahead of what is likely to be a busy summer of rebuilding his squad for next season, Hodgson is likely to announce his retained list later this week. With over half of his 31-man squad out of contract in the coming weeks Hodgson will hold a meeting with his players on Wednesday.

Skipper Craig Liddle is expected to announce his retirement from the game, while Hodgson has indicated that Craig Hignett could quit to pursue a career in the media.

Former Celtic winger Bobby Petta is also out of contract and Hodgson must decide whether or not the 30-year-old's performances warrant an extended deal.

* Tomorrow night there is a Darlington fans forum at the Green Tree pub, Brompton, near Northallerton, with Andy Collett and Neil Maddison in attendance. It starts at 7.30pm and all are welcome.

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