Eastman Joins Colchester
Thursday, 19th May 2011 15:20
Defender Tom Eastman has joined Colchester United on a two-year deal having turned down a six-month contract with the Blues. Eastman, 19, will be reunited with his former Town academy coaches Tony Humes and Richard Hall at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
The centre-half joins the U’s on a free transfer as the Blues’ offer didn’t match the terms of his previous one-year deal.
Eastman says he's delighted to be joining his hometown side: "This is a great move for me and I'm joining a big club in this division.
"I was born in Colchester and have lived in Clacton all of my life, so it's great to be playing for my local club.
"I had a good spell in the first team last year and that's given me a taste for first team football and I have come here to try and develop next season.
"I am hoping to be around the first team and to play some games. Tommy Smith said he enjoyed his time here, so I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the players and getting started."
Colchester boss John Ward says Eastman provides competition for his other central defenders: “With Richard Hall and Tony Humes on our staff, we were well aware of Tom's background and pedigree and we have seen him play more recently for Ipswich's reserves.
"They had offered him a six-month contract which under the rules meant we were able to move in and get him on a free transfer and he'll be joining us for the next two years.
"As well as a player who can come in and compete now, he is also one for the future as well. We will have the senior three centre-halves to be challenged for their places by Tom and Tom Bender, and again it gives us good competition in that area.
"He has come to us to kick his career on and play some football, and this is a move that fits in nicely for him and for us."
Eastman made 12 starts and one sub appearance for the Blues, all under Roy Keane’s management. Having been sent off on his debut on the final day of 2009/10 against Sheffield United, the youngster nicknamed ‘Granddad’ by his academy team-mates made most of his Town appearances out of position at right-back before dropping out of the picture after Paul Jewell took over as boss.
Photo: Action Images
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broomfield123 added 15:25 - May 19
Shame. Thought he may have had a future with us |  | |
JimmyJazz added 15:25 - May 19
joins the U's on a free transfer as the Blues' offer didn't match the terms of his previous one-year deal.
Errrrr, is this another mistake we'll be learning from?? |  | |
Loyal_S added 15:28 - May 19
Good Luck To Tom, But to be honest, He was terrible. Prefer we concentrate on Bringing Tommy Smith up to be a better player. |  | |
Nazemariner added 15:31 - May 19
That's another centre back needed then! Only three left if i'm not mistaken. Delaney, Smith and Brown. |  | |
Hungry_Badger added 15:37 - May 19
fair play to the lad, he will probably get more games there than here, just thought we could have sent him out on loan and then make a decision if he was good enough or not, oh well good luck anyway. |  | |
Campag_Velocet added 15:45 - May 19
Offered a pay cut and a six month deal because Jewell hadn't seen enough of him in action - even Keane and Magilton would have arranged a reserve friendly or two to look at the younger players.
What a great idea that Jewell let Gareth McAuley have one last run in the team against Leicester, rather than seeing if Eastman was worth a chance.
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james1989 added 15:52 - May 19
y do all the moaners still moan, chill out abit and just see what happens, i have faith in paul jewell and i think we will get it right! out with the old in with the new i say, instead of moaning just look forward to next season and see who we end up with! and good luck tom hope things work out well at col u |  | |
WadzillaBhoy added 15:53 - May 19
I thought if someone was under 24 they couldn't be offered less money? |  | |
tractor_boy_varnz added 15:53 - May 19
Was always slightly overated though the 12 performances he gave under keane were fairly decent seeing as he was playing out of position! atleast were not offering silly money and tring to reduce our wage bill (both eastman and murphy's new deals had a wage cut)... down side is it probably means that jewell needs to bring in 2 decent centre backs with the possibility of tommy or troy going out on loan! anyway good luck for the future tom! |  | |
naa added 15:56 - May 19
I think you're misunderstanding the story. It doesn't say he had a pay cut, it says that the terms he was offered didn't match the previous ones. the previous contract was for a year, this one was for six months. That's the difference, not the pay.
Must admit, I am a bit surprised with this as we dont have much cover for centre-backs but I guess Jewell is trying to add one or two experienced ones in the summer which would put Eastman well down the rankings. | | |
homer_123 added 16:06 - May 19
The reason he never played that well for us - played out of position.
He's never been a right back (although Keano would have us think otherwise) - he'll do well for Col U at Centre Back. |  | |
brogansnose added 16:08 - May 19
I know he got slated when he was in the team ( out of position ) early on in the season but i did feel that he was one for the future. Please don't let him be replaced by Nosworthy and all the best Tom. |  | |
Lamby95 added 16:15 - May 19
IMO brown will be the better centre half to be an understudy to GMac replacement. |  | |
Campag_Velocet added 16:16 - May 19
WadzillaBhoy:
"I thought if someone was under 24 they couldn't be offered less money?"
You can always offer a player less money - but if you do, they are entitled to leave on a free transfer with the rest of their contract paid up. As it was the end of the season and the end of his contract, it didn't really matter in terms of him walking away (but is why Brian Murphy had the choice of leaving when he did)
naa:
"I think you're misunderstanding the story. It doesn't say he had a pay cut, it says that the terms he was offered didn't match the previous ones. the previous contract was for a year, this one was for six months. That's the difference, not the pay."
Not true, the terms relate to finance only. If in 2014, we offer Connor Wickham a two year deal on the same money he is on now, but he goes elsewhere, we will be entitled to compensation. Just as Manchester United got compensation for Lee Martin, despite them only offering him a one year deal when we signed him (he had previously been on a three year contract at Old Trafford). | | |
bedsitfc added 16:19 - May 19
good luck to the lad.
i suppose with us pulling out of the ressie league we dont need so many full time playing staff so we will only be keeping the players that show pj they are capable of filling in for the first team. meaning if m.e has capped wages pj will have more to play with. | | |
Behind_Enemy_Lines added 16:24 - May 19
I have seen him twice and he did really struggle to pass the ball to another team mate, hope he doesn't have that much trouble to pass water !!! |  | |
muhrensleftfoot added 16:25 - May 19
This is fair enough. We have option of Delaney or Smith for left centre back & Brown plus McAuley replacement (let's hope a good experienced one) on the right |  | |
Bluetone added 16:26 - May 19
If players keep leaving and no new ones come in we'll be struggling in a five-a-side league. | | |
JTL279 added 16:36 - May 19
Good luck to Tom.
Always thought he gave 100% and was out of position at right back. Not sure he has the pace for centre back and this is something he needs to work on; perhaps a slower pace of forward may suit. |  | |
itfc1981 added 16:41 - May 19
Clegg, ggggrrrrrrrrrrr |  | |
pazelle added 16:55 - May 19
Jewell you muppet! |  | |
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