Kem Izzet would love to become the new manager of Colchester United.

The former U’s midfield stalwart, who totalled a staggering 422 league games for the Essex club, between 2001 and 2013, knows that he has only an outside chance of landing his ‘dream’ job.

But both he and fellow former U’s legendary player, Karl Duguid (415 league outings for the U’s), would need no second invitation to succeed Tony Humes as the new boss of the League One club.

Chairman Robbie Cowling has suggested that the new manager will be an appointment made “within the club,” but Izzet and Duguid feel that they should be considered.

“I’d love to come and work for Colchester United,” revealed Izzet to the ‘East Anglian Daily Times’ last night.

“My heart has always been with Colchester United, and that has not changed.

“I’m still a local lad and Colchester is still the first result I look out for every weekend. My ambition is to one day be a manager, and I think this would be a great start.

“Both Karl (Duguid) and I talked about it together, and asked ourselves whether we should apply.

“We have made contact with the chairman (Cowling), so now we’ll have to wait and see. The club has to get Saturday (away game at Burton) out of the way first, we realise that.

“But I would see it as more than just a job, being manager of Colchester United. It’s where my heart is, and always has been.

“There have been several recent appointments from within, and they haven’t really worked.

“I believe they want to appoint from within again, but although Karl and I are not working at the club at the moment, we have the club at heart.

“Personally, I don’t see myself as anywhere else other than Colchester United. I’d love to be given the opportunity to have a chance of being manager,” added Izzet.