STEVE Colwell has admitted his decision to leave the Terras was the toughest call of his footballing career.

The midfielder, who joined the club from Plymouth Parkway, announced via social media that he was to depart the Bob Lucas Stadium due to work commitments.

Colwell, a heating engineer by trade, is expecting to be working further afield in the coming months, meaning his travelling commitments to train with the club have become almost impossible.

“I think as of pretty much the beginning of next season I could potentially be working as far down as the end of Cornwall,” he told Echosport.

“It would just be impossible for me to commit to training twice a week. Games on a Saturday would be fine but I’m not the type of person that wouldn’t train and then turn up and expect to play on a Saturday.”

About his final decision, Colwell added: “I am gutted. I gave it a long hard think but I have had to put my work commitments first.

“At the end of the day, that is my main source of income and I couldn’t knock it on the head. It was very difficult.

“It has been the toughest decision that I have had to make in my footballing life.”

Colwell, who has since agreed to re-join Parkway next season, made his debut for Weymouth in a 3-0 defeat at St Albans in February 2014.

Speaking about that day, he added: “Luke Winsper was in the team and he pulled out in the warm-up so I got thrown right in at the deep end.

“We got beat 3-0 and it was a very tough game but I absolutely loved it.

“It was my first game playing at that standard and, even though we got a bit of a pasting, from that moment on, it just got better.

“One of my other best moments was scoring my first goal at the Bob Lucas against Biggleswade.

"My dad was in the stands as well so it was nice for him to watch that.”

Terras’ boss Jason Matthews also admitted he was sad to see the popular member of the squad vacate his place and insisted he was set to be part of his plans for next term.

“Steve was offered a deal but he can’t take it because of his work commitments,” the Weymouth chief said. “From my point of view he leaves with a heavy heart. I think he had an outstanding season and he is a fantastic lad. He will be sorely missed.

“Not only in his football career, but in his personal life, he has been a pleasure to manage.

“He was great to have around. It’s not the end and we are hoping to keep him on a dual registration if we can.”

Asked what he was going to miss about playing for the Terras, Colwell added: “If I had to name everything I would be here all day.

“The players are unbelievable. The coaches, the backroom staff and the directors are brilliant and fans are absolutely superb. I will definitely miss playing in front of crowds of nearly a thousand.

“The fans are the loudest in the league and are fantastic. Home or away they don’t stop, win or lose they don’t stop.

“I want to thank Jase, he is the one who put the faith in me and he has stuck by me along with my good mate Stewart Yetton."

And speaking about a potential return on dual-registration, the midfielder added: “I would have to run it by the new gaffer at Parkway. Obviously I am mainly going to play for Parkway but for Jase to offer that is brilliant. It was the icing on the cake.”

  • Weymouth have announced that Jordan Copp will be staying with the club after agreeing non-contract terms for next season.