John McGreal says he is ‘heavily involved’ in the process of formulating his Colchester United squad for next season.

But the U’s head coach insists the focus over the coming weeks is firmly on the club’s current contracted players to produce the goods for them, in League Two.

More than a dozen senior first-team players are due to see their deals expire at Colchester this summer, with Brennan Dickenson, Kurtis Guthrie, Tom Lapslie and Drey Wright already offered new terms.

McGreal says he is already working closely with the likes of chairman Robbie Cowling and director of football Tony Humes in planning ahead for the next campaign, with the next transfer window closing earlier on August 9.

McGreal said: “At this moment in time, everyone at the football club is under contract until June 30 and we have to try and win games.

“We have people that we want to sign from elsewhere that we’re also looking for.

“We’re prepping for games but you also have to keep an eye on what’s going on, because you don’t want to fall behind.

“We’re heavily involved in what we’re doing (in terms of contract issues).

“Steve (Ball) and I know roughly where we want to go but at this moment in time, we won’t be saying anything.”

McGreal is expecting a hectic few months until deadline day, with hundreds of players due to see their contracts expire up and down the country.

“One thing I’m noticing again is that there are so many players who are coming out of contract,” added the U’s boss.

“It’s frightening - even at this level there are a lot of agents on the phone talking about players coming out of contract and that’s without talking about our own.

“We know it’s going to be a busy, busy window and it’s been brought forward as well to August 9, when business has got to be done by.

“It will have an effect.

“I think it’s going to be a bit manic.

“I think players will want to get their contracts sorted out quickly, because there will be quite a number of players out of contract in the summer.

“The season will have already started and players will want to get deals done knowing that they can have a break and be secure with their future.

“Players want security and I think it might be a little bit different, this summer.”

Colchester will be looking to close the gap on the play-off places when they host Yeovil Town in League Two, on Saturday.

The U’s under-23 home clash with Watford, due to be played at Florence Park, this afternoon, was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.