COLCHESTER United defender Marc Tierney is facing up to the fact that he could be sold this summer if talks to extend his contract continue to fail.

COLCHESTER United defender Marc Tierney is facing up to the fact that he could be sold this summer if talks to extend his contract continue to fail.

The tough-tackling left-back has just a year to run on his current deal and earlier this week turned down a second extension offer.

Fully settled in the area and expecting his second young child in just two weeks’ time, Tierney is extremely keen to stay at the club where the fans have taken so warmly to him.

However, the 24-year-old also says that, with a host of Championship clubs interested in his signature, he owes it to his young family to try and secure the best possible deal for himself.

Should Colchester be unable to negotiate a new deal with the Manchester-born defender, then they would probably look to cash in on him this summer rather than risk losing him for nothing in a year’s time.

The situation is even more unclear considering that the U’s could be without a manager for up to three weeks following Aidy Boothroyd departure for Coventry City this week.

“The contract talks reached a bit of a stalemate again last week because I was led to believe there would be some rejigging and that didn’t happen,” said Tierney, the self-titled ‘fan in a shirt’ who earlier this season firmly established himself as a cult hero at the Weston Homes Community Stadium when insisting that he would never play for bitter rivals Norwich.

“I’m fully aware that the club has a budget, but at the same time I have to do the best for myself and my family.

“I had such a good relationship with Aidy which meant talking about the contract was easy. Although things had stalled, I felt we were finding our way slowly but surely.

“Now, with him leaving, it’s a case of going back to square one. I’ve now just got to wait and see who comes in and what they want to do. My passion and desire for this club is there to see every weekend though so hopefully they will want to keep me here.

“If we can’t reach an agreement then I am fully aware that I will probably be seen as a sellable asset and that I could go.

“Every young father wants some stability in their life and, although there’s no real panic just yet, I would like to get things resolved as soon as possible.”