FREDDIE Sears admits he would be ‘gutted’ to leave Colchester United this summer.

The experienced striker is one of a number of U’s players who are due to see their contracts expire, following the completion of the League Two campaign.

Sears has found his starting opportunities restricted at Colchester this season, particularly over recent months.

The 33-year-old, who has made nearly 200 appearances in total for the U’s, scoring 57 times, says he loves being at the U’s but concedes his future at the club is uncertain.

Gazette:

Speaking after the U's final game of the season against Mansfield Town, he said: “I’m not sure what’s happening.

“We have meetings over the next few days to find out.

“I love it here.

“I’ve been here before after coming here from West Ham, I live in this area.

“I’d be gutted to leave but that’s football, isn’t it?

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“At the minute, it’s too soon to answer (where he might be playing next season) but I still love the game.

“I’m 33 now and come a long way since the 18 year old who scored on his debut at West Ham.

“I still love football, so we’ll see what happens."

Gazette:

Sears came on as a late substitute for Colchester in their 2-0 home defeat to Mansfield Town, on the final day of the League Two campaign.

The former West Ham United youngster has been restricted to 14 league starts for the U’s this season, with 12 of them coming before November.

“It’s been a tough season,” said Sears, who returned to Colchester for a second permanent spell in the summer of 2021, after rejoining them from Ipswich Town.

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“I think every year, you look to push up the league but it’s not seemed to happen the last two years here.

“We normally seem to have a good run at the end of the season and that’s where we are now.

“We look forward to next season and see what happens.

Gazette:

“It was a bit of a disappointing way to finish, with a 2-0 loss.

“Mansfield needed a result and they got it.

“But as a whole since the manager has come in, it’s been quite a positive end to the season.

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“It was a bit of a sad one.

“A lot of the boys, Cole Skuse, Luke Chambers, it might be their last games.

“I’ve been in the changing room with them for eight years now at Ipswich and then here.

“Football doesn’t last forever.”