KARL Duguid said the lure of Coca-Cola Championship football was a big factor in his shock decision to move from Colchester United to Plymouth Argyle.

The U's longest serving player turned his back on League One football at the new Weston Homes Community Stadium yesterday to play Championship football for the Pilgrims at Home Park next season.

Duguid has ended his 14-year association with the U's to sign a two-year deal with Plymouth for an undisclosed fee.

He told the Gazette: "The prospect of staying in the Championship played a massive part in my decision to move to Plymouth.

"I have been at Colchester a long time, since I was 16-years-old, and I've played all my football at Layer Road.

"When the old stadium staged its last game at the end of last season, not only was it the end of an era for the ground, I genuinely felt it was the end of an era for me.

"I feel I have achieved all I could have achieved - two Wembley cup finals, two promotions and being appointed club captain - in my time at Colchester.

"I'm very pleased with everything I did at Layer Road, but 14 years is a long time.

"I don't think I could have achieved much more and the time was right for me to move on.

"Plymouth have presented me with a new challenge and, at the age of 30-years-old, I'm more than ready for it."

For more, see today's Gazette.