Steven Gillespie feels he let Geraint Williams down during his time as Colchester United manager.

Williams made Gillespie the U’s record signing when he splashed out more than £400,000 for the striker in July, 2008. Gillespie scored twice on his Colchester debut at Hartlepool United, on the opening day of the 2008-09 season.

But the 24-year-old was then hampered by injuries and after a poor start, Williams left the U’s with the campaign just nine matches old.

Williams is preparing to lock swords with his former club again tomorrow, when his Leyton Orient side host Colchester in Coca-Cola League One.

And Gillespie said he was disappointed he could not score the goals to help his former manager last season.

Gillespie told the Gazette: “George (Geraint) showed a lot of faith in me and he paid a lot of money for me.

“But I felt like personally I let him down, just because I hadn’t been here long before he left.

“I started the first couple of games under him.

“But I picked up a couple of niggles and had a spell out of the side.

“I wasn’t actually involved in his last game as Colchester manager, so it was particularly disappointing.

“He paid a big fee for me and I was there to bring the goals in and I didn’t quite do that.

“It started well with the first game and I scored a couple of goals.

“It could have gone really well from there but it went the other way.

“It’s just the way it goes sometimes and he’s done well at Orient.”

For the full story, see today's Gazette.