11-05-2025
Tom Flanagan happy to remain at Colchester United next season
TOM Flanagan says he would be happy to remain at Colchester United next season.
The 33-year-old defender was the U's second-highest outfield appearance maker in the 2024-25 campaign, having arrived from Shrewsbury Town last July.
Flanagan, a former Northern Ireland international, is one of a number of players out of contract at Colchester, this summer.
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However, with the U's expected to announce their retained list next week, the U's skipper is eager to sign a new deal if offered one and remain at the JobServe Community Stadium for next season.
Flanagan said: 'I came into the season and I wasn't 100 per cent sure that I was going to enjoy it.
'I was motivated to play one more season and I'm certainly motivated to play again.
'Standing in the position I was in at the end of last season, I was really contemplating finishing.
(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)
'I want to go again if the club will have me and that's not me putting a bit of pressure on them or an advert – they know that, Dan and Nick know that.
'I'm not chasing them for a contract but if they want me, I'm happy to stay.
'We'll go away in the summer and there'll be some people staying and some people leaving.
'Personally, I was pleased with the season and when I look at it overall, I look at it with a smile on my face.
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'I've played in seasons before and you go away and you're glad it's ended and it wasn't one of those – I've really enjoyed the season.'
Flanagan believes Colchester can be proud of their efforts in League Two, this season.
The U's finished tenth in the division and only missed out on a play-off spot, on the final day of the campaign.
'I hadn't been at the club previous to this year but from where the club has been to where we've taken it as a group with the management and everyone behind the scenes, I think we've got a lot to be proud of,' said the former Sunderland and MK Dons centre-back.
(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)
'Where we've been in the last 12 weeks or so, turning up to the stadium has been brilliant, with the attendances, the flags and banners – the supporters have really have backed us.
'The over-riding feeling is disappointment – we had it in our hands, at one stage.
'We ultimately let it slip by leaving ourselves with a bit too much to do, in the early part of the season.
'When you recruit as many people as we did, that kind of takes a little bit of time but we narrowly missed out.'
