Kem Izzet in the dark over his long-term future

Experienced midfielder Izzet, who has been with the U’s for nearly 11 years, is one of 15 senior players out of contract this summer.

Just three of the U’s promotion-winning squad of 2005-06 are still at the club, after Pat Baldwin left to join Southend United on a permanent deal for the rest of the season last Friday.

Izzet, John White and Karl Duguid make up that trio of club stalwarts.

Chairman Robbie Cowling and manager John Ward have already made it clear that the wage bill for next season will have to be cut, to meet the criteria of the new Football League ruling.

League One clubs will only be able to spend 60% of their income on players’ wages, so some drastic action will have to be taken by many of the “smaller” clubs in the division who do not attract big attendances. Colchester is one of them.

“I am contracted here until the end of the season,” explained Izzet, who returned to the starting line-up for Saturday’s 1-0 win at Leyton Orient.

“I’d love to have another contract at Colchester, but we are not talking at the moment.

“I think we are talking in February, so we will first be seeing what comes in and what goes out, and then sit down, have a chat, and hopefully get something sorted.”

Izzet signed for the U’s just a year before Baldwin arrived at Layer Road, so the two were team-mates for 10 years.

It will seen strange, then, for Izzet not to have such a long-term colleague, and friend, alongside him in the U’s dressing room.

Izzet admitted: “It’s sad to see friends go, but we will keep in touch.

“Pat’s time here had expired, so to speak, and he has gone on to further his career elsewhere.”

For full story, see today’s EADT