STEVEN Gillespie is desperate for Colchester to heap further misery on Tranmere on Saturday, if only to keep his relatives off his back.

Stuart Watson

By Stuart Watson

STEVEN Gillespie is desperate for Colchester to heap further misery on Tranmere on Saturday, if only to keep his relatives off his back.

The 24-year-old striker was born in Liverpool, grew up a red and started his career at Anfield as a trainee, while the majority of his family are Evertonians.

He therefore knows that, should Merseyside club Tranmere end a run of seven straight defeats he will not hear the last of it.

“It's always good to go back home,” said Gillespie. “My family and friends have all been on to me about tickets.

“It'll only be good if we win though because there will be a lot of people there that I know ready to say something if we don't!”

Gillespie completed the first 90 minutes of his latest comeback from injury on Tuesday in a 0-0 reserve team draw at Northampton.

The club record signing is likely to still be on the bench for Saturday though as the U's take all the precautions they can to stop a repeat of his rapid breakdowns following previous comebacks.

He said: “Hopefully, when I get back in the side I will be getting back into a winning side. In the past I've perhaps been rushed back because the team has been struggling, but now we have got strikers that are scoring goals and doing well.

“It's not just up front, right through the whole side we've got great strength. We've got players in all areas that are not playing at the moment that would arguably get in most other League One sides.”

Meanwhile, Gary Holt has left his role as U's player-coach after less than two months at the club.

The former Scotland international was brought to the Essex club by former manager Paul Lambert in the summer, but has reached an agreement with new boss Aidy Boothroyd to end his contract.

The 36-year-old defensive midfielder - who played under Lambert at Wycombe Wanderers - has now been linked with a return to former club Norwich City to link up again with his former boss.

Boothroyd said: “Gary came to see me and said that he thought it would be best for both parties for him to move on. We have parted on good terms and I wish him well for the future.”

Holt was brought to Colchester primarily to work with the youth team, but also to provide back-up as a player. He featured during pre-season but failed to make a league appearance.