CONNOR Witherspoon admits he has taken a step back to take two steps forward after leaving East Thurrock United to join Maldon & Tiptree.

The Rocks midfielder ended his two-year spell at Rookery Hill in order to link up with the Ryman One North outfit, who have large-scale changes planned.

Maldon announced a new link up with League One club Colchester United last week. And Witherspoon, 20, says the project was one he wanted to be a part of under new manager and former U’s player David Wright.

“It is really exciting,” he said. “I was contacted by Mark Levey (Colchester under-21s goalkeeping coach and Maldon & Tiptree coach) and I know he watched me play last season and was impressed. He told me Maldon were looking for some young players to join up and the project sounded like a good one so I decided to go for it.

“There will be the chance to train with the Colchester under-21s and that will be great for me, plus this team has designs on winning promotion next year so it is a team going places.”

Witherspoon, who lives in Brentwood, said he had some reservations about leaving the Ryman Premier League for a lower league but said he feels the move will prove to be the right one sooner rather than later. “That was my only issue with it,” he said.

“But although I am dropping down a league now, this team will be up there come the end of the season and hopefully we will be in the Ryman Premier League next year.

“I feel it is a small step back to make two steps forward in the long-term. This is a very ambitious team and I am pleased to be part of it.”

Witherspoon could even have been playing in the National League South next year, with rumoured interest from a number of clubs including Chelmsford City.

“I heard a lot of whispers but no offers ever came in,” Witherspoon added.

“For me it is all about game time at the moment and, although I played a lot of times at East Thurrock last year, I see next year as the time I can really make an impression on a team going places.”