New recruit Richard Brindley believes that Colchester United is the “right place to be,” following his permanent switch to the U’s this week.

Talented right-back Brindley, who spent a successful spell on loan with the U’s at the end of last season, helping the Essex club to engineer a remarkable relegation escape act, is looking forward to even better times ahead.

Released by Championship club Rotherham at the end of the campaign, 22-year-old Brindley took time out to consider his future, before agreeing to sign a two-year deal with the U’s.

“I had a few other options, especially in League One,” revealed Brindley.

“I also had a few chats with Championship clubs, so I had a couple of weeks to think about it.

“But in my opinion, Colchester United is the right place to be for me, as a young, developing player.

“I really enjoyed my stay at the club, at the end of last season, so this move suits me down to the ground. It’s perfect for me, and it’s a weight off my shoulders to have everything sorted out so early in the summer.”

Brindley signed on loan from Rotherham at the end of last March, featuring in all of the Essex club’s final eight games of a nerve-wracking season, which culminated in a dramatic final day 1-0 win over Preston.

“That Preston game was a bit special,” continued Brindley.

“I thought that I settled into the team quickly, on my arrival, but then I had to, in view of the situation that we were in!

“I felt that I got fitter and better, with every game that went by, and it was great that we managed to stay up on that final day.

“The Preston game is certainly one of the highlights of my career so far. I had never been involved in a relegation struggle before. It’s something that I had not really experienced.

“We had to defend for our lives, against Preston.”

The U’s victory over the Lilywhites, via George Moncur’s late winner, secured an eighth consecutive season in League One for the U’s, thanks also to defeats elsewhere for relegation rivals Crawley and Notts County, who both went down.

Now Brindley is looking onwards and upwards, anticipating a better 2015-16 campaign at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

“Colchester is a good place to be for a young player, and I know how the manager (Tony Humes) works, and what he wants out of his players.

“I’m looking forward to getting a full season under my belt, and proving myself in League One. I want to realise my full potential, which I think I can do at Colchester.

“I didn’t get many opportunities in the Championship, but I think that I can kick on now.

“The signs are good. I think if we can carry the mentality that we showed towards the end of last season, into the next one, then we will do well.”

Ex-Norwich City trainee Brindley, who dropped into non-league to play for Chelmsford City in 2012-13, before returning to the League with Chesterfield and then Rotherham, is Humes’ first signing of the summer.

He looks set to be the regular right-back, following the release of Sean Clohessy at the end of the season.