COLCHESTER and East Essex chairman Andrew Kennedy has backed Jake Foley to be a success after he took over as the club's first-team captain.

The 23-year-old all-rounder has been appointed first XI skipper at Castle Park from Tom Ullyott, who has left the club for pastures new.

Foley, who once played for Hampshire against Sri Lanka A in 2014, will be hoping to help Colchester improve on last year's sixth-placed finish in Shepherd Neame Essex League premier division.

The Colchester-born left-handed batsman and leg spin bowler tasted success in his game in charge, leading them to a comprehensive victory over a full-strength East Anglian Premier League side Copdock.

Kennedy said: "Jake was very keen to do the role and that was refreshing.

"He came to us at the end of last season and was very enthusiastic.

"Jake has been a captain before - he won the Southern Premier Cricket League down in Hampshire.

"He has experience of winning a league before and that's very important, especially as a captain."

Kennedy says Colchester will be striving for a top-half finish under Foley in the forthcoming league campaign, which gets underway next month.

"I think we are definitely aiming for a top-five finish, this season," he said.

"I would expect Brentwood to be very strong again and they've gained a couple of players and I would think Wanstead and Snaresbrook will be the same.

"Hornchurch and Chelmsford will also be up there challenging.

"We'll be looking to try and win the Essex T20 competition.

"It's our strength - we got very close to winning it last year and we won it in 2015."

Colchester will have to adjust to life without Ullyott, who has returned to Nottinghamshire to play his cricket there.

Kennedy said: "There's been a fair bit of change that's got on and there's a different first-team squad but it's quite an exciting one.

"We have our squad now - it's a very young team supplemented with more experienced players like Ben Stephens, Julian Russell and overseas player Darren Eckford.

"We have four really good seamers and two very good spinners.

"The only thing that we're a bit concerned about is the lack of batting depth, having lost Tom.

"I think we'd be lying if we were to say that we won't miss his runs but the team is very well set up."

Experienced duo Greg de Silva and Omar Ahmed will both feature for Colchester's first team after returning to Castle Park, along with Henry Hebdon.

And teenage trio Josh Rymell, Joe MacGregor and Ben Allison, all members of the Essex academy, will also represent the senior side.

Joe Austin has also left while Ollie Bocking is currently playing First Class cricket for Leeds Bradford MCCU.

"We're now looking for the younger players coming through to push on," added Kennedy, who is set to play for Colchester's second XI this season.

"Josh and Joe won't play much in the first seven or eight weeks of the season because of their school commitments but Ben is now at college and is available."

Colchester play their first competitive match of the season on April 29 when they take on Loughton, in the Dukes League Cup.

Their first First XI premier division game is against Brentwood at Castle Park, on May 13.