COLCHESTER United marksman Clive Platt will not be jumping ship, just because the U's look doomed to relegation this season.Platt arrived at Layer Road for a then-club record fee of £300,000 from MK Dons last summer, lured by the promise of Championship football.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United marksman Clive Platt will not be jumping ship, just because the U's look doomed to relegation this season.

Platt arrived at Layer Road for a then-club record fee of £300,000 from MK Dons last summer, lured by the promise of Championship football.

But although the U's seem destined to be playing in League One next season, Platt is not instinctively thinking about another move in the transfer market.

“Of course I won't be happy to be playing in League One, because I want to be playing in the Championship,” revealed Platt.

“However, most of the players here are on extended contracts, and we have a very good manager (Geraint Williams) at the helm.

“Colchester United is a great club, and we have a new stadium to look forward to for next season, as well as hopefully some improved training facilities to come.”

The U's were decimated by a mass exodus last summer, on the eve of their second season in the Championship, with the likes of Jamie Cureton, Chris Iwelumo, Wayne Brown, Richard Garcia and Chris Barker all departing.

Williams will be hoping that there is not a repeat performance this summer. Already, keeper Dean Gerken has been linked with a £500,000 move to West Ham, and other transfer stories seem sure to follow over the coming months.

Whatever happens this weekend, the U's cannot be relegated. The worst case scenario would see them 14 points adrift of safety, with just five games remaining.