Ex-Colchester United striker, Freddie Sears, recognises that it is going to be a tough ask for his old team to cheat relegation again this season.

U’s leading scorer Sears, after 14 goals in the first half of the season, left the Essex club to join Ipswich Town on a two-and-a-half-year deal last week.

“It’s going to be hard because there are a lot of clubs down there fighting for their lives,” admitted Sears, when asked about whether he thought the U’s could avoid relegation.

Sears continued: “But there’s a good squad there and a good management team.

“Hopefully, Colchester can get out of it because there’s not much between the teams at the bottom.

“All it takes is a couple of results. Hopefully, they can stay out of it.

“I’ve been there three years and I haven’t got a bad word to say about the club.

“The last two years have been my best two years playing wise in a long time.

“There are really good people there and I’ll have a soft spot for them for the rest of my life,” added Sears.