His time at Barnet didn't go exactly as planned but Sam Cox believes his two seasons at the club have helped him develop mentally as a player.

The midfielder joined the Bees in the summer of 2010 from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur but has found first team opportunities limited.

It was a difficult first campaign off the field for Cox as his mother was struck with lung disease and spent seven weeks on life support. It led to the 21-year-old cutting his braided shoulder-length for charity.

With a number of loan players brought into the Bees this season, he joined Boreham Wood on loan in November and impressed, winning the player’s player of the year award.

Despite only featuring for the Bees in 12 matches over his two campaigns, Cox said his time at Underhill has given him valuable experience.

"My time at the club has opened my eyes. Some of the situations I had I hadn’t been in before in my life. When I was at Tottenham you were very much looked after in terms of training, technology and what kind of training regime you are doing.

"But at Barnet there have been managerial changes and players coming in and out. So it has opened my eyes to how football at this level works.

"Obviously I had been on loan at Torquay and Cheltenham but they were only for short periods of times.

"But over the two years at Barnet, seeing the amount of things that change, sometimes it can be unsettling. But at the end of the day it’s all experience."

He continued: "The last couple of years have helped mentally. I’ve had some knocks in terms of one period I was starting and getting games then the manager gets sacked and a new manager comes in and then I’m on the bench. And then it’s a similar thing the next season. But I go on loan to Boreham Wood and do well, so I hope it shows that I am willing to carry on going and I’m never going to quit.

"I haven’t got a weak mentality. I’m quite strong minded; I’m positive and believe in my ability."

It was announced this week that Cox's contract would not be renewed. However, while his future will now be away from Underhill he admits he will always have an affinity towards the Bees and their supporters. He said: "I am a local lad. Barnet is my local team and my dad used to take me to games when I was a kid.

"So Barnet is a club close to me and I am a fan. It’s my local club and I want them to do well regardless of what happens in terms of myself.

"I have always got on with our fans. The Barnet supporters are great and I have felt sorry for them at times with the seasons they have had to go through the last couple of years."

He added: "I just hope, whether I am a part of their future or not, that the club can kick on.

"I still want to maintain the good relationship with the fans and what will be, will be."