IT'S been a very black day for Colchester United, with skipper Dean Hammond's impending departure to join Southampton.

Carl Marston

IT'S been a very black day for Colchester United, with skipper Dean Hammond's impending departure to join Southampton.

Just hours after manager Paul Lambert left the club to become the new boss of Norwich City, taking assistant Ian Culverhouse and football operations manager Gary Karsa with him, so Hammond is preparing to join the Saints.

U's chairman Robbie Cowling said: “I alone made the decision to allow Dean to move to Southampton and I did so because Dean is out of contract at the end of the season, and did not want to extend his stay with the U's beyond that time.

“Dean has been a fantastic player for Colchester United, but the fee I have received for him will allow the club to go out and find a worthy replacement who will also be here for next season and the one after that.”