MATT Briggs has left Maldon and Tiptree to join their Isthmian League division north rivals Coggeshall Town.

The 28-year-old left-back, who is currently at the Gold Cup with Guyana, has quit Park Drive after one season to join the SeedGrowers.

The former Colchester United defender has previously represented England at different age groups, ranging from under-16 to under-21 level.

Ex-Maldon striker Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe has a future at Colchester, according to U's boss John McGreal.

The 25-year-old striker will remain at the JobServe Community Stadium until at least the summer of 2020, after the U’s activated a year’s option in his contract for him to stay put.

Ogedi-Uzokwe, who was due to see his previous deal at Colchester expire this summer, is currently on loan at Derry City.

The SSE Airtricity League side have now extended his loan with them and he will remain there now until November 19.

Ogedi-Uzokwe, who joined Derry in February initially on a six-month loan, will return to Colchester at the end of the Irish season.

McGreal said: “Junior is at the age when he needs the games and to be playing football week in, week out.

“He wasn’t one to be sitting around and sitting on the bench.

“He’s travelled abroad before and that’s no problem to him.

“He’s been doing OK in Ireland.

“Junior is a centre-forward and we want them at our club to be scoring goals and if they’re not doing that, to be affecting games."

Meanwhile, former Maldon midfielder Sammie McLeod will be given the chance to shine for his new club Colchester, according to boss McGreal.

The 19-year-old, who left the Jammers to join the U's on a two-year deal, shone for Wayne Brown’s side last season, helping them reach the play-offs.

The midfielder scored nine times for Maldon before his season was cut short by a leg injury.

McGreal said: “As we’ve shown with other players moving up from under-23 level, the opportunity is there for Sammie to stake a claim.

“He missed quite a bit of football at Maldon towards the end of the season.

“But he’s been at Leicester as a young player and now he’s been given an opportunity at Colchester and it will be up to Sammie to prove his worth here."

Former Maldon boss Kevin Horlock has left Colchester to take over as Needham Market's academy manager.

Horlock left his role as Jammers boss last summer to take over as U's under-23 boss and was replaced by Wayne Brown in the Park Drive hot seat.

Maldon begin their pre-season programmer with a friendly at home to Concord Rangers, on July 13.

They also take on Braintree Town (home, July 23), VCD (away, July 27), Leiston (home, July 30), Carshalton (away, August 3) and Hastings United (away, August 10) before the new season starts.