Colchester United assistant manager Steve Ball says Chris Porter has left with the club's best wishes following the striker's decision to quit the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Porter rejected the chance to stay at the U's in favour of signing a two-year deal with their League Two rivals, Crewe Alexandra.

The 33-year-old spent two-and-a-half years at Colchester and was their top scorer this season, with 16 goals.

But despite Porter's decision to leave, U's number two Ball says there are no hard feelings and revealed the former Sheffield United decided to move for "family reasons".

Ball told the Daily Gazette: “Chris has been fantastic in all of the time that he’s been at Colchester.

“Even in the final game of last season against Rochdale when I was in caretaker charge, he showed what a great pro he is and it just continued from there.

“At the end of the season, John (McGreal) and I sat down and discussed who we wanted to keep and we offered him a new contract but football is football.

“Chris had six offers – he was out of contract and he has decided to move on, so we wish him all the best.

“He goes with our best wishes and he’s made the call for family reasons, so we have to move on."