Colchester United have signed some quality players in the transfer window who will make a difference for them, according to Iain Moody.

The U’s Head of Player Resources says he is happy with the business the club have done after adding a further three players to their squad prior to the window closing, on Tuesday.

Colchester this week snapped up Swindon midfielder Sean Murray, goalkeeper Dean Brill following his release by Scottish Premier League side Motherwell and striker Rekeil Pyke on loan from Huddersfield Town, until the end of the season.

The addition of the trio follows the U’s capture of Cardiff City pair Tommy O’Sullivan and Eli Phipps, earlier this month.

Moody told the Daily Gazette: “We were always focused on bringing in quality rather than quantity in this transfer window. I think we’re pleased with how the window has gone.

“We’ve been favoured by positive results on the pitch as well – we’ve not felt the need to go out and bring lots of new players unlike some other clubs who are at the other end of the division.

“We have a good basis of a squad here – we knew we wanted to strengthen one or two areas and that’s what we’ve achieved in this window.

“We wanted to bring in players who would make a difference for us and I think that we’ve done that.

“Once the January window has closed, you take stock and take a look at your own agenda (in terms of existing players) and that’s what we’ll do.”

Colchester had been linked with a loan move for Barnsley’s Elliot Lee, earlier in the window.

However, Moody revealed that they ended their interest in their former loanee once they successfully extended the loan spell of Reading winger Tarique Fosu, until the end of the season.

He said: “After we extended Tarique Fosu loan, the Elliot Lee signing was not a route we needed to go down.”

Moody, who has plenty of experience of negotiating in transfer windows having previously worked for the likes of Watford and Crystal Palace, says Ipswich Town’s bid for winger Brennan Dickenson was firmly rebuffed.

Colchester flatly rejected Town’s offer for the former Brighton and Gillingham player, who still has 18 months remaining on his current contract.

Moody added: “It was a firm “no” and we’ve not received any further interest.

“It’s of great credit to Brennan but also us and the coaching staff here that he attracted the interest he did.

“But it’s also credit to the chairman (Robbie Cowling) for turning it down – mid-season is never an easy time to attract players to clubs and never an easy time to lose players, either.”