Ryan Dickson has left Colchester United to join Crawley Town after turning down a new contract at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The left-back has signed a two-year deal with the Red Devils, after deciding to end his one-year stay with the U's.

Dickson, 27, played 35 times for Colchester last season after joining them on a free transfer from Southampton, last summer.

The defender's appearances were restricted in the early part of his stay at the U's by illness but he was a regular in the second half of the campaign for Joe Dunne's side.

For more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news, see Thursday's Daily Gazette.