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.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Thursday, May 12, 2005
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