Ex-Ipswich Town man Owen Garvan leaves Colchester United

Owen Garvan, left, and Frankie Kent ackowledge U's away fans after the draw at Newport County this season. Picture: RICHARD BLAXAL

Experienced midfielder Garvan had not played since the 4-0 home defeat to Portsmouth on March 11, due to injury, missing the last five games.

The Dubliner had originally sat out the first three months of the season, due to a pre-season leg injury, but his eventual return to the team coincided with the U’s ending a woeful 13-game winless run, with a 3-0 win at Cheltenham on November 22.

Garvan played a key role in transforming the Us season from one of a potential struggle against relegation, to a strong push for the play-offs.

But the ex-Ipswich Town man has now played his last game for the U’s, after the club agreed to cancel his contract for personal reasons – the 29-year-old had requested to be released from his contract.

U’s Director of Football Tony Humes said: “Owen came to us and requested the opportunity to leave the club for personal reasons.

“We have been working with him over the past few weeks to resolve the situation in the best way possible.

“We have now managed to reach a conclusion on our conversations with him and we have come to a mutual agreement to allow Owen to depart.

“We wish him all of the best for the future and thank him for his time and efforts whilst at the club.”

The U’s are holding their pre-Doncaster Rovers press conference at lunchtime today, when boss John McGreal might reveal more details of Garvan’s departure.

Garvan’s first 11 appearances of this term featured eight wins, three draws and no defeats.

In all, he made 50 league appearances for the U’s since his arrival from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2015.

He had previously spent six years as a professional at Ipswich, and five at Palace.

The U’s entertain Doncaster on Good Friday. The Yorkshire club clinched promotion to League One last weekend.