Paul Brush has admitted that he has got a battle on his hands to secure confirmed transfer target Chris Llwellyn from Norwich.

Talking about the 23-year-old Welsh midfielder, who is tempting the likes of Bradford and Swansea, the O's manager said: "I am very interested in Chris, but he has still got two years left on a contract at Norwich.

"I have spoken to his agent, but there are number of clubs interested in him, including some higher leagues.

"Obviously with clubs in the First or Second Division being able to offer him a higher level of football and possibly a bigger wage, it will be difficult to get him."

Brush is hoping to have quick answers on both that deal and those on two other players he is targeting, although he may have to recruit a new striker with the news that Lee Thorpe could be moving to Carlisle.

He added: "Hopefully we can tie up the players we are after as soon as possible, and ideally I would like to bring in three new faces. I have got the people in mind. All I can say at the moment is that one of them has been playing in the First Division and the other one is a Second Division player.

"But I might also find myself a striker light, because Lee Thorpe has been in talks with Carlisle for the last few days. While I don't want to lose him because I really feel we can get the best out of him next season, he is being offered a longer and perhaps more lucrative deal by them."

May 30, 2003 16:00