SEAN Clohessy insists he will not ask to leave Southend United this summer.

The club’s player of the season will soon be out of contract with the Shrimpers.

But, while the right-back admitted to wanting to play at the highest level possible, he has not ruled out staying at Roots Hall.

“I’m never going to come out and say I want to leave here because I’m very grateful for the opportunity Southend gave me to play league football again,” said Clohessy.

“It’s up to the club and the chairman to produce a contract for me though because talks have been ongoing for a while now.

“I’m obviously happy here, but like any other footballer I do want to play at the highest level I possibly can.”

Clohessy is also likely to attract interest from elsewhere after another terrific season with Blues.

The 26-year-old defender set a new club record by playing all 59 games in the 2012/13 campaign and was also voted in to the PFA League Two Team of the Year, as well as being voted Southend’s player of the season.

And those accolades delighted the former Arsenal trainee.

“It was nice to get into the team of the year after coming close in the previous two seasons,” said Clohessy.

“There were a couple of good full backs in Paul Caddis and Jack Hunt, who are both now playing in the Championship, who beat me so it was brilliant to finally do it this time.

“Getting player of the year was also a real honour for me.

“There was a lot of competition from the likes of Ryan Cresswell, Barry Corr, Gavin Tomlin and Kevan Hurst, so for people to vote for me really meant a lot.

“I’d like to thank everyone for that, but it goes without saying I would swap all of the individual accolades for us winning promotion.”