It was cruelly ironic that the image of a celebrating Freddie Sears should adorn the front cover of Colchester United’s matchday programme on Saturday.

But for the suffering U’s fans though, the unfortunate juxtaposition only served to add insult to injury.

Of course, strict printing deadlines meant that the programme had been produced well before Sears’ departure to Ipswich Town.

However, it nonetheless perhaps served to illustrate the element of surprise the striker’s move created.

Many U’s fans had been resigned to the fact that they would lose Sears, in this month’s transfer window.

His contract was due to expire at the end of the season.

And he had elected not to sign the fresh deal offered to him by the club.

Nevertheless, Sears’ exit has still led to substantial disappointment among Colchester supporters, especially given that he has joined one of their main adversaries.

But surely few would begrudge the former West Ham youngster the opportunity to return to a higher level of football, following his efforts for the club this season.

Time will tell whether Sears’ goals in the first half of this campaign will be significant enough to help keep Colchester in League One.

But there is no doubt that he will be missed as was emphasised in the U’s first game without him, a 2-0 home defeat against Walsall.

Yet when Sears first arrived at the U’s three years ago, he probably needed Colchester as much as they needed him.

When the striker joined Colchester in January 2012, initially on loan, he had hit the headlines as a hot young prospect at West Ham United.

But Sears matured and transformed from boy to man, during his time at Colchester.

And while he made something of a slow start to his time with the U’s, not helped by injuries, he blossomed into an intelligent striker capable of scoring on a regular basis in a side more often than not fighting against relegation.

Sears netted 36 goals in all competitions for the U’s - he is now one of the club’s leading top-30 strikers and fittingly, scored on his final appearance for Colchester.

The U's have moved quickly to bring in reinforcements, drafting in youngster Jack Marriott on loan from Ipswich Town and stepping up their hunt for a more experienced striker, too.

But Sears will be a hard act to follow.