KICK on again and quick' is Ashan Holgate's philosophy as he comes to terms with the prospect of life in the professional ranks.

The 19-year-old should pen a one-year deal very shortly and report for senior duty when pre-season training gets underway in July.

Holgate was both delighted and relieved when Iffy Onuora handed him the chance to make the step up from youth team to first team.

Not that the former Dorcan College pupil is taking anything for granted.

He may have a year's' deal but the reality is that he has considerably less time than 12 months to impress Onuora.

Holgate, who featured eight times during 2005-6, knows he cannot afford to waste a single opportunity between July and May 2007.

Confident, certainly, complacent, certainly not.

He said: "I was really pleased when the gaffer told me that the club was going to offer me a deal. You work hard as a scholar and you hope there's going to be a deal at the end of it.

"The coaching staff have been good with me, telling me the areas where they felt I needed to improve and you try and take all that on board.

"I think the spell I had at Salisbury City towards the end of the season helped me as well.

"Now it's about kicking on and looking to impress as quickly as possible.

"Having been involved with the first team last season, it just makes you want a start every week.

"The gaffer has quite a few strikers now and there's obviously going to be competition for places next year.

"Yes, you get a year's contract but I suppose it's actually less than that in a way. Once you get that first contract you want to do everything you can to try and earn another one."

And at least Holgate won't find himself as the sole kid' looking to elbow more experienced players out of his way in the pursuit of a starting slot next season.

Ben Wells, David Stroud and Leigh Henry have also been offered senior deals by Onuora.

Lukas Jutkiewicz still has a year to run on his scholarship but he too has been offered a professional deal.

Holgate said: "It's great that a few of the lads have been offered contracts and I'm sure they'll all be looking to impress as well.

"A few people have already stopped me in the street to see if it will be Holgate and Jutkiewicz up front next season."

  • FORMER Town striker Tony Thorpe will not be part of Colchester United's Championship squad next season.

The experienced forward spent the latter part of the 2005-6 campaign at Layer Road having severed his ties at the County Ground.

He was largely restricted to a substitute's role and helped the U's clinch promotion following a 0-0 draw at Yeovil Town on Saturday.

One of his few starts came in a 1-0 victory over Town back in March.

He joins Sam Stockley, Gareth Williams and Stephen Hunt in heading for the Essex outfit's exit door.

Colchester boss Phil Parkinson said: "All four players have made important contributions to a very successful Colchester United team and I would wish them all the best wherever their careers may take them in the future."