U's Skipper In Shock Move!

Colchester United captain Karl Duguid has made a shock move to Plymouth Argyle.

Duguid has signed a two-year contract with the Home Park outfit, ending a 14 year association with the U's. The Pilgrims will pay the U's an undisclosed fee for his services.

The long-serving star has made over 400 appearances in a U's shirt, becoming a cult hero on the Layer Road terraces.

Duguid told CU-FC.com: "I have been there fourteen years and had some great times."

"Last season, Colchester came to the end of an era at Layer Road and maybe it was a good time for me to go and seek fresh challenges, having played all of my career at that ground.

"Of course, I would have loved to play at the new ground but with the Layer Road chapter ending for the club, it was perhaps the right time for my own chapter with the U's to come to a close."

Despite being sad to depart, Doogie revealed that the option of a instant return to the Championship was too good to turn down.

He continued: "Championship football was a big hook for me and I feel that I am at an age where I should be playing at this level," he added.

"I spoke to the manager and was impressed by the plans that he has got.

"He has mentioned some of the players that he is trying to get in and I was keen to get on board."

The 30-year-old, who is a product of the U's youth system, also spoke about his overall happy relationship with the U's faithful.

"My relationship with the fans was overall a positive one," he admitted.

"Every player will get stick now and again and that's part and parcel of the game.

"But I do think that I have grown stronger for it and my relationship with the fans became better after that. I haven't got a bad word to say about Colchester United and enjoyed every minute.

"It is sad to go but the end of an era of the U's and myself and hopefully the new challenges will be positive for both of us.

"I think it's important to say I am not leaving on a bad note at all and I never wanted that to happen.

"I always said that I have wanted to do things the right way and I will look back and think that the ups outweigh the downs by quite a bit."

Vital Colchester would like to wish Doogie the best of luck for the future and thank him for his services to the U's.

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