Warren Aspinall's Colchester United career could be over with boss Steve Whitton revealing he has been sent on loan to Third Division Brighton.

The 31-year-old midfielder was stripped of the captaincy by the U's boss and it looks as though he could be on his way from Layer Road after an eight-month spell.

Moving in the opposite direction is Andy Arnott, who had been targeted by Whitton earlier in the week.

Whitton said: "It's no secret I have been after Arnott and I have been speaking to the Brighton manager Micky Adams this week.

"Both players have swapped clubs and hopefully it's for the best. Initially it is a loan deal for a month with a view to a permanent deal.

"Warren's contract at Colchester is up at the end of the season and moving to the south coast could be his best chance of getting a new one."

Richard Wilkins, meanwhile, is back at the helm as U's captain. And Whitton revealed he is re-signing striker Tony Lock - initially on a non-contract basis.

Wilkins replaces Aspinall who was appointed team captain at the start of the season by Whitton's predecessor Mick Wadsworth.

Whitton said: "Richard Wilkins has been a proven captain for the club over the years."

Delighted to be back at the Layer Road helm, Wilkins said: "It's a great honour to be playing for Colchester United and it's a great honour to be captain again.

"The next five or six games are going to be crucial to us and as things aren't going too well for us on the pitch at the moment all that experience will be invaluable. Having the captaincy back is a great privilege.

"Colchester United have enjoyed a lot of success over recent seasons and the most important thing about this club is that much of that success was earned by good old-fashioned team spirit.

"I will be doing my utmost to rekindle that same spirit again."

The 34-year-old former Cambridge United and Hereford skipper was stripped of the captaincy after falling out with Wadsworth and asking to be placed on the transfer list at the end of last season.

Lock, one of the nine U's players handed a free transfer by Wadsworth at the end of last term, is back in the fold as Whitton bids to bolster his goal-shy attack.

The U's boss said: "Tony is one player I would have kept at the club if I had been manager at the time.

"He is currently on non-contract terms at Conference club Kettering, but he is back in training with us and is looking very sharp.

"I have taken him back on similar terms and if everything goes well he could soon be in the reckoning for the first team."

Warren Aspinall - off to Brighton

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