COLCHESTER United legend Micky Cook believes that professional pride can help the club's players bounce back next season - if they are relegated.
A home defeat to Hull City has left the U's rooted to the bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship table and on the verge of dropping into League One.
Stalwart Cook - Colchester United's record-appearance holder - racked up 700 league and cup games for the Layer Road club.
He suffered ups and downs during his 15-year stint with Colchester, including relegation to the old division four in 1976.
But Cook helped his beloved U's win promotion back to the old division three at the first time of asking.
And the Hall of Fame inductee thinks the same could happen next season, if the club is relegated for the first time since 1990.
Cook told the Gazette: "Any player that experiences relegation will feel that they have something to prove.
"You learn a lot about the players in this situation.
"The club will have to look at the resources they have and where they want to go - but I think that the boys they have would relish the challenge.
"They're difficult times when you're down there.
"But we all need to stay positive and there's still a lot to play for."
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