LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Colin Egglesfield has spoken out over The CW’s decision to get rid of his character.

“I’ve had better days, to be quite honest,” the 36-year-old actor told E! Online. “[They said it] was a network decision and obviously the ratings aren’t what they need or want them to be, so they’re going to try things to shake things up.”

In addition to thinking he would be around for the entire season, Colin said he was supposed to be on the show for possibly years to come.

“I was slated to be in 10 of the 13 first episodes,” he said. “But, I had a multiyear contract.”

Colin said he only found out the news a few hours before it went wide.

“I got the call [Thursday] morning from our producers, Todd [Slavkin] and Darren [Swimmer]. They were really saddened, and you could tell it was difficult for them to break this news to me,” he explained. “They said it was a network decision, and they said the network thought Auggie was a little too dark, with his alcoholism. They felt like in the landscape of ‘Melrose’ they wanted to change the tone of the show. So that’s the explanation that they gave me.”

The actor said his departure, however, is done in a way that leaves open the possibility for a return down the road.

“The way in which I’m leaving the show, I’m not being killed off,” he revealed. “I’m just leaving. It keeps the door open for, potentially, my character to come back, but who knows?”

Despite his firing, Colin explained he doesn’t have any hard feelings for any of the cast or crew.

“Todd and Darren are great, I love those guys and they’ve always been straightforward and straight shooters and just great people to work with. I respect the decision that they had to make creatively to do what they need to do — I’m just frustrated that I’m not going to be a part of the show, because it was such a great job and a fun place to go to work every day,” he continued. “I’m disappointed to be leaving because I became really good friends with not only the cast of ‘Melrose Place’ but many of the crew as well, so that’s sad, to not be able to go see them at work. But hey, I’m still friends with them, and I’d just like to say to everyone out there who’s been watching and supporting, thanks from the bottom of my heart, because this is something that I love to do.”

As for his own road ahead, Colin said he’s trying not to dwell on his sudden forced departure – along with going out for potential new roles.

“I’m not spending too much time thinking about it, because it’ll just drive you crazy, if you try to figure something out that you’re never going to figure out,” Colin said. “I’m just focusing on [other stuff]. I’ve already got a bunch of auditions lined up.”

As previously reported on AccessHollywod.com, Ashlee Simpson, is also being written out of the series.

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