'New' Colchester excite Cowley after 'system reset'

Danny Cowley's former clubs include Braintree, Lincoln, Huddersfield and Portsmouth

Colchester United boss Danny Cowley has said he is undertaking a "system reset" at the club to ensure last season's struggles are not repeated.

Cowley and brother Nicky, his assistant, have so far made eight signings after finishing 22nd in League Two last season, just three points above the relegation places.

The brothers were appointed mid-way through last season and are now focused on making Colchester more competitive.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing time and time again and expecting a different result, so sometimes you have to have a system reset and change the personnel," Cowley told BBC Essex Sport.

"We've been pretty aggressive - we didn't want any scar tissue from what has happened previously and I think we've made enough change for it to feel really fresh here."

Colchester allowed four players to leave at the end of last season and sold defender Connor Hall to Port Vale.

Meanwhile, midfielder Cameron McGeehan chose to accept an offer from Northampton Town rather than extend his stay with the club.

"This is a new Colchester United and we are just super excited for what is to come," said Cowley.

"When you are making as much change as we are, it's not easy, because you have so many players to integrate and bring in, it's not just building relationships on the pitch, it's also bringing them together off the pitch which is the challenge.

"I don't think you can ever eliminate the risk in recruitment, but certainly you can minimalise it... we'll make that transition as smooth as possible."

Colchester will be away to AFC Wimbledon in their first league game of the new season on 10 August before hosting League One side Reading in a home Carabao Cup tie three days later.