FORMER Colchester United defender Danny Granville is set to play against his old team-mates next season.Full-back Granville was one of seven players released by U's boss Geraint Williams this summer - the others were Kevin Watson, Luke Guttridge, Adam Virgo, Bela Balogh, Tom Webb and Tom Devaux.

Carl Marston

FORMER Colchester United defender Danny Granville is set to play against his old team-mates next season.

Full-back Granville was one of seven players released by U's boss Geraint Williams this summer - the others were Kevin Watson, Luke Guttridge, Adam Virgo, Bela Balogh, Tom Webb and Tom Devaux.

And the experienced Granville has lost no time in finding himself a new club. He signed for League One side Leyton Orient yesterday, on an initial one-year deal with the option of a second.

The O's were promotion contenders during the first half of last season, before nose-diving to a final position of 14th spot, a distant

16 points behind Southend, who finished in the final play-off berth.

Orient manager Martin Ling said: "It is pleasing to get the first summer signing done and dusted, and especially one of Danny Granville's quality."

Granville arrived at Layer Road from Crystal Palace on a free transfer last summer, but never really established himself as a regular in the U's starting line-up.

The 33-year-old Londoner, who won a UEFA Cup Winner's Cup medal with Chelsea in 1998, started just 14 league games in the U's relegation campaign. He was ever-present during the months of October and November, but only made two brief appearances as a substitute following the turn of the year.

Granville operated mainly as a left-back, but also as an emergency centre-half for the U's. He began his professional career at Cambridge United in 1993 and has also played for Chelsea, Leeds (£1.6m fee), Manchester City (£1m fee), Norwich (on loan) and Crystal Palace.