Col U’s Williams: Changes Inevitable

Geriant Williams has admitted that changes at Championship club Colchester United were inevitable following the club’s success last season.

The U’s, a surprise package in English football, recorded their highest league finish of 10th place during a fantastic debut season in the nation’s second tier, beating, among others, giants Sunderland, Derby, and Southampton along the way.

Now, after initially promising there would not be a mass exodus of playing staff at the end of the campaign Williams admitted in his column for monthly-circulation Elite Magazine that the events of the summer were nigh on unstoppable.

“Following our performances last year, other clubs were always going to be looking hard at our players; success alerted other managers,” Williams told Elite. “Once a player is aware of interest, and the rumours of lucrative contracts available elsewhere, it’s very difficult for us to win over the player.”

Colchester, in the end, lost several key players to league rivals, including Jamie Cureton, Chris Iwelumo and Wayne Brown, all formally terrace favourites.

While the former pair on that list both questioned Colchester United’s ambition on their way out of Layer Road, Williams went on to mention in his column that United had attempted to keep the successful squad in tact.

Williams added: “Certain players made it clear they had no desire or intention of staying and wanted to move on. For the good of the squad and for the right fees for the club, these players were allowed to move on.

Opportunity now knocks for our new signings,” he concluded.