The big Colchester United news for deadline day this week was the departure of long-serving club captain, Kem Izzet, who moved onto pastures new after a twelve-year stint with the U’s.
The 32-year-old midfielder has found it difficult to feature for the U’s in recent times and, in a quest for first team football, has decided to try his luck elsewhere.
U’s manager Joe Dunne has seen Izzet play throughout the whole of those twelve years and admitted to the official site that the midfielder had been a great credit to the club over the years.
‘He has served the club exceptionally well and been a great player to work with,’ he admitted. ‘He’s been wonderful for Colchester United but being a free transfer outside the deadline may help him to get another club.
‘We have a lot of bodies in midfield and, at this stage of his career, not playing is difficult so, with his contract running out, it is a tough decision that has to be made.’
Izzet has spoken to the local media about his long-term desire to go into management and to make the decisions from the top of the club, and Dunne believes Izzet has the necessary qualities.
The midfielder has been the club captain at the Weston Homes in recent seasons, and the U’s boss insists Izzet’s leadership attributes will serve him well in any future roles.
‘He has the qualities to be a manager – he is single-minded, determined and his attitude is a dying breed in the game. He has been club captain for a long time, he’s good in the changing room.
‘He was instrumental in helping us to stay up last year, but this is a new opportunity in his life and he should look forward with excitement towards a new challenge.’
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