Colchester United are still hopeful that Marc Tierney will stay with the club.

The U’s left-back is out of contract at the end of the season.

Tierney, 25, is yet to agree a new deal and has this week been linked with a move away from the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

However, Colchester insist that talks are still on-going with Tierney over his future.

And U’s boss John Ward expects to sit down and talk to the former Oldham Athletic defender in the near future.

Ward told the Gazette: “We’d like Marc to stay and as far as I’m aware, he wants to stay.

“I’m aware of the speculation that emerged earlier in the week but that has come from an outside influence and it’s certainly not from the club.

“I have a great relationship with Marc and so has (chairman) Robbie Cowling.

“Marc has played through his injury problems and is committed to the cause.

“If that changed, then we would have to deal with it.”

For more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news, including Marc Tierney's weekly column, see Thursday's Gazette.