Luke Chambers was released by Colchester United last month

The 37-year-old defender clearly thrived on the responsibility of captaining a U’s side battling against relegation and rose to the occasion, in the final weeks of the League Two campaign.

In short, Chambers certainly did not look like a player ready to hang up his boots – far from it.

He still had the same boundless enthusiasm and hunger to win that he did when he first started out at Northampton Town, more than two decades ago.

So what next for the former Ipswich Town defender, following his release by the U’s last month?

He may have been deemed surplus to requirements at Colchester but the vastly-experienced centre-back has made it clear he has no intention of calling it a day.

Chambers looks set to carry on playing in the 2023-24 campaign and add to the incredible 791 league appearances he has already made during his long and impressive career, which has lifted the defender to seventh spot currently in the list of all-time top-ten league appearance makers.

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"I absolutely want to keep playing next season, ideally here but you never know what's around the corner,” said Chambers, speaking at the end of April.

"You don't know what people are thinking but for me, what I bring to the team week in, week out, day in, day out on the training ground for the club, I think I'll be of value for someone for next season.

"That is my aim, to carry on playing and to get as far up that top ten list.

"While I'm contributing at the level I am I think, we carry on.”

He might be approaching the twilight of his career but there are certainly no doubts over Chambers’ overall fitness and stamina.

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It speaks volumes that he was Colchester’s highest appearance maker in the 2022-23 season, starting 43 of the club’s 46 league games and playing his part in an effective three-man central defence, alongside Fiacre Kelleher and Connor Hall.

But it is not just Chambers’ experience and knowhow on the pitch that is valuable.

It is also his all-round influence and presence around the training ground and off the pitch.

You only have to listen to some of Colchester’s younger professionals talk to get an idea of how beneficial he has been for them.

“Chambo was brilliant since I came in,” said U’s defender Will Greenidge, in a recent Gazette interview.

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“He was always been there on my shoulder, in the changing room, always supporting me and to play on the pitch next to him, I couldn’t ask for anyone better to get me used to men’s football.

“I’m really grateful for everything he’s done.”

Chambers has never played outside of the EFL and is likely to want to remain at a league club.

Could newly-promoted Notts County, fresh to League Two and looking to at least consolidate in the fourth tier, be a possibility for the former Nottingham Forest defender?

If Chambers did decide to drop down into the National League, he is unlikely to be short of offers.

READ MORE: Will Greenidge outlines personal target after positive season climax

With all of his talent, experience and knowhow, he would make for an ideal signing.

Alternatively, a player-manager role be an option.

There is currently a vacancy available for first-team manager at Chambers’ home-town club Kettering Town, following the departure of former Nottingham Forest striker Lee Glover from the post.

Whether or not Chambers feels now is the time for him to go into coaching remains to be seen though, given his desire to continue playing at the highest level possible.

Chambers’ future may no longer be at the U’s but it seems as though there’s still plenty more to come from the vastly-experienced evergreen defender.