With plenty of comings and goings expected this summer, it could well be a case of past, present and future on show for Colchester United in their final game of the League Two season at promotion-chasing Exeter City this weekend.

They will be hoping for a more productive display than that they produced in their final home game of the campaign, last weekend.

Much like the season as a whole, the U's 0-0 stalemate with Swindon Town will probably not live long in the memory.

With little to play for other than pride, it should in theory have been a free-flowing, open contest with both sides free from any pressure.

Instead, it was almost as if the disappointment of failing to make the League Two play-offs was hanging over both the U’s and Swindon, such was the strangely stagnant nature of this penultimate game.

There are plenty of question marks hanging over the U’s too, as they head into the summer.

The future of a number of their soon-to-be out-of-contract players is up in the air.

A large quota of first-team members will see their existing deals expire in the coming weeks; for the U’s, the signatures of some squad members will clearly be more than desirable than others.

Offers are on the table and like any club, Colchester will undoubtedly want to keep hold of their best players in order to launch a promotion challenge, next year.

But there was also evidence last Saturday to suggest there is hope for the future.

Dillon Barnes, who could well be Colchester’s first-choice goalkeeper next season if Sam Walker departs for pastures new, did not let anyone down on his first-ever league start for the club.

Stiffer tasks will await but the 22-year-old is highly rated by the U’s and is seen as a good prospect.

Ryan Gondoh’s debut performance also caught the eye, too.

The former Maldon and Tiptree youngster certainly added something different to the home attack when he replaced Drey Wright, midway through the second half.

The likes of Barnes, Gondoh and Courtney Senior are likely to figure prominently for Colchester next season, as John McGreal attempts to launch another assault at promotion.

And those fans who stayed on after the Swindon draw got the opportunity of a glimpse of the U’s future, a little further down the line.

Paul Abrahams has some talented young players in his under-15 side, as proven in their penalty shoot-out win over Southampton following a six-goal thriller after extra-time.

The future looks bright but in the short term, Colchester must learn the lessons of this season, capitalise on the strengths of their squad and build on them, if they are to enjoy a more productive campaign next time around.