Colchester United are set to lose the services of three of their first-team regulars.

The Daily Gazette understands that the U’s are now resigned to the departures of Sam Walker, Kane Vincent-Young and Sean Murray, after the club’s deadline for the out-of-contract trio to sign the new deals offered to them came and went.

At the end of last season, Colchester offered new terms to several players who were due to see their contracts at the JobServe Community Stadium expire, this summer.

And although Luke Prosser agreed a new two-year deal earlier this month and the U’s took up their option to retain the services of Tom Lapslie and Brennan Dickenson, the cut-off mark has passed for Walker, Vincent-Young and Murray to put pen to paper on a fresh contract.

As a result, Colchester are understood to be pursuing replacements, ahead of the new League Two campaign.

Walker, who has made more than 200 appearances for Colchester since joining them from Chelsea in 2013, has been linked with a move to a Championship club.

The 26-year-old, who was named the club’s Players’ Player of the Year at their End of Season awards night last month, missed just two games for the U’s in their last two League Two campaigns and helped them keep 13 clean sheets in the 2017-18 campaign.

Vincent-Young was a consistent performer at left wing-back for Colchester last season, helping John McGreal’s side achieve the joint sixth-best defensive record in the division.

The 22-year-old, who has made 80 appearances for the U’s since making his senior debut for them in 2015, was named their Young Player of the Year at their awards night.

Due to his age, Colchester would command a development fee for the defender.

Murray found first-team opportunities harder to come by in the second half of the last campaign, following the arrival of Ben Stevenson on loan from Wolves.

However, the 24-year-old was still a regular performer under McGreal after joining the U’s from League Two rivals Swindon Town in January, 2017.

Colchester will learn who they are playing and when in the 2018-19 season when the League Two fixtures are announced this morning.

The EFL will unveil the fixture programme at 9am this morning for the forthcoming campaign, which kicks off on August 4.

Colchester will face Bury, MK Dons, Northampton Town and Oldham Athletic, who were relegated from League One last season.

They will also take on Macclesfield Town and Tranmere Rovers, who were promoted from the National League.

Colchester’s players return for their pre-season fitness testing next Wednesday, with their first friendly at Bostik League North side Maldon and Tiptree on July 7.