Ben Bowditch is adopting a positive mental attitute after a season he claims 'couldn't have got any worse'.

Far from downbeat - Ben Bowditch, who has been released by Colchester United. (37362-a)

The midfielder, who underwent his second hip operation in six months earlier this week, has not had his contract extended at Colchester United after a campaign blighted by injury.

Yet the Braintree-based former Tottenham Hotspur man is anything but down about his fortunes.

Bowditch told the Gazette: "I spoke to Phil Parkinson and was totally aware of the situation and understood that it was going to be difficult for him to give me a new contract.

"I pretty much expected that I wasn't going to be offered a new deal and, although I haven't got a club at the moment, I'm looking forward to finding a new one and hopefully being successful because I don't think things could get any worse.

"I was excited when I came here last season.

"There were a lot of good things said about me in pre-season and it was just a matter of time before I was going to get my first start."

Yet despite seven appearances from the bench this season, Bowditch was never given a chance to prove himself with a starting place.

The 21-year-old said: "I do feel a little bit hard done by.

"I had been working hard throughout the summer but was never given that opportunity and it's been so frustrating for me.

"But if I was featuring a lot more in the team I would have loved to have stayed.

Ben's younger brother, Dean, is a striker at Ipswich Town and recently enjoyed a loan spell at Burnley.

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Published Thursday, May 12, 2005

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