Richard Brindley has revealed other clubs were interested in luring him away from Colchester United this summer.

But the athletic right-back insists it was not a difficult decision to stay at the U’s, despite their relegation to League Two.

Brindley, who has experienced Championship football in his career having played in the division for Rotherham United, endured a frustrating campaign last time around having been injured and then found himself out of favour under former boss, Kevin Keen.

But after assurances from head coach John McGreal, the defender says he was more than happy to stay at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Brindley said: "With the situation that I had with not playing games last season and things not going in my favour, things did creep into my mind about whether I would be playing this year.

"For me, first and foremost, the objective is to be playing week-in week-out.

"With my past and being in the Championship, there were other clubs interested but I still had another year at Colchester and my first priority was to talk to the manager here to see whether I was in his plans or not.

"It's as simple as that really, but it wasn't difficult for me to make a decision on whether I was going to stay or not.

"My family are all here, I still have another year here and I had the opportunity to play week-in week-out so it was a no-brainer for me really.

"I wasn't going to force my way out and go to another club in League One or the Championship.

"This year I have an opportunity to show what I’m capable of and I feel I've been doing that - I feel stronger than last season.”

Brindley was a regular in the early part of last season but experienced a disappointing campaign after that which ultimately ended with Colchester being relegated from League One.

"It was tough for me,” added Brindley, who signed for the U’s in March 2015, initially on loan.

"I came to Colchester having stepped down from the Championship and looking to get games.

"I wanted to get regular football - that's all I wanted to do.

"Unfortunately I got an injury at the start of the season that kept me out for two to three months.

"With the bad results we had and a new manager coming in, it can be difficult.

"New managers have their own opinions on players and that was the case for me.

"There's nothing personal in that; it's just football.

"I was doing extra sessions to get my fitness back but last season was difficult because of the injuries and I did actually come back early from an injury to play.

"But it just didn't work out in my favour at all last season.

"However, it was tough for everyone last season and now we're focused on this season.

"I'm just happy that we've had a good start and to be playing again.”

Brindley and his Colchester team-mates head to Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow, hoping to get back to winning ways following defeat at Portsmouth last weekend.

"We know what they have got and the way they play,” he added.

"If (Adebayo) Akinfenwa's playing, we know what he's best at so we're aware of what they can do and we're working on how to stop that.

"We've already played against teams who do try to play it long and we've dealt with that.

"We have had a good start and know what to expect.”