The Tigers paid a club record fee for a defender in July 2007 when Barking-born Wayne agreed to move north in a £450,000 deal.

A centre-back and natural leader, he teamed-up again with former Colchester United colleague Richard Garcia at the KC Stadium.

Both have been star performers in the recent Us' success story with Wayne being the bedrock at the heart of their defence.

He has particular reason to be proud of United's remarkable first-ever Championship campaign last season as he played in every minute of the Essex club's 46 games.

He joined Colchester in the summer of 2004, following a successful loan spell at the end of the 2003-04 season.

Wayne began his career at Ipswich Town where he spent eight years at Portman Road including four Premiership appearances during the 2000-01 season.

Having generally found first team opportunities with the Tractor Boys hard to come by, he also enjoyed loan spells at Queens Park Rangers, Wimbledon, Watford and Gillingham.

Wayne, who reached his 30^th birthday during the opening month of the 2007-08 season, joined the Tigers on a three-year contract.

He became the 900^th player to make their City debut in league and cup matches while a personal highlight was his goal in the 3-1 win against his former club Ipswich Town in September.

Otherwise, Wayne's partnership with Michael Turner proved be the bedrock of the successful team which, in reaching the Premier League via the Play-Offs, equalled the Tigers' club record of finishing third at the Championship level.

Notably, his presence was sorely missed when suffering calf and hamstring injuries in March and April.

Started the Barclays Premier League season as third-choice centre back, although he did start in the defeat against Wigan in August. With first team opportunities limited by increased competition, he joined Leicester City on loan after the turn of the year.