Former Colchester United striker Lyle Taylor says he leaves the club without resentment towards managers Danny and Nicky Cowley, despite a contract dispute that ended his hopes of staying.
The 35-year-old, who finished last season as the U’s top scorer, has signed for National League South side Chelmsford City.
Taylor netted 13 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions for Colchester, but his campaign ended in April due to a calf injury. He had verbally agreed a new deal on reduced terms, only for the written contract to differ from what he believed had been arranged.
‘It Was Forced Upon Me’
Taylor explained that while he wanted to remain at the JobServe Community Stadium, the negotiations left him feeling undervalued.
“I’ve known Dan and Nick for almost half my life. My relationship with them won’t change because of this set of circumstances and this situation. I have the utmost respect and love for the pair of them.
“The club offered me a contract in May, there was then a negotiation between myself and the manager and we came to an agreement around eight weeks ago. When the contract did materialise in physical form, there was a gaping hole in that contract.
“I agreed to take a pay cut but it still wasn’t enough and ended up being almost 40%. There comes a point where you have to say ‘enough is enough’.”
Cowleys Pay Tribute
Taylor joined Colchester last summer on a 12-month deal, linking up again with the Cowleys after their time together at Concord Rangers. Speaking last week, Danny Cowley praised the striker’s contribution, describing him as “a really important person in our group” and noting his willingness to put the team first despite injury setbacks.
The forward’s career has taken him from early spells at Bournemouth to goal-scoring success at AFC Wimbledon, alongside stints at Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and other EFL clubs.
New Challenge at Chelmsford
Taylor revealed he had options to stay in the EFL or move abroad but was persuaded by Chelmsford’s ambition.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, they have a really good owner, they’re wanting to go in the right direction and that’s what I want to be part of. It’s a place I can see moving towards a goal and that is a really important thing – you know what you’re striving for, you know what you’re working towards. It’s going to be a really interesting project.”
Taylor’s immediate priority is to complete his rehabilitation and return to competitive action.
Writer’s View
For Colchester, losing their leading scorer underlines the challenges of squad stability at League Two level, particularly when budget constraints bite. For Taylor, Chelmsford offers a platform to continue playing while contributing to a club with upward aspirations.
His experience, professionalism and proven scoring ability could make him a pivotal figure in their push for promotion, provided he returns to full fitness quickly.
