Football Season Guide

Hayden Mullins will be looking to make a name for himself after being given the Colchester United job on a permanent basis. Having twice been interim manager at Watford, he took over as interim boss again, this time at the Colchester Community Stadium at the end of March with the team on a horrendous run of form. A crucial home win over Essex and relegation rivals Southend United ensured they did enough to stay up. Even in such a short space of time, Mullins influence was evident as he tightened up a previously sieve-like defence and it was enough to earn him the job. Survival will have come as huge relief to owner Robbie Cowling, whose decision to sack John McGreal after losing in the play-off last summer looked increasingly like a big mistake. Mullins appears focused and single-minded and has allowed several regulars from last season to leave for pastures new. The biggest loss is midfielder Harry Pell, who has moved to League One Accrington Stanley, whilst allowing winger Courtney Senior to move on is something of a surprise. Striker Jevani Brown’s release was much less surprising having fallen out of favour. Cowling wants to build a model which allows young players to progress into the first team and full-back Justin Tchamadeu was the success story of last year. There has however been something of a move away from that philosophy with four experienced players signed from Ipswich Town in Luke Chambers, Alan Judge, Cole Skuse and Freddie Sears.