COLE Skuse says Colchester United's upturn in fortunes since Wayne Brown took charge has been 'remarkable'.

And the recently-crowned U's Players' Player of the Year has revealed a key factor behind the interim head coach's success in guiding the club to League Two safety.

Skuse says the attention to detail and thoroughness shown by Brown and his coaching team has been 'second to none', during his time in charge.

Brown led Colchester to a 15th-place finish, having taken temporary charge following Hayden Mullins' departure in January.

The former U's defender, alongside Joe Dunne and Dave Huzzey, took over with the club having suffered five successive defeats and three points above the relegation zone.

And experienced midfielder Skuse, one of Colchester's highest-appearance makers this season, says Brown deserves credit for turning the club's fortunes around.

Skuse said: “Wayne Brown and the coaching team deserve a special mention for what they have done, this season.

“Hayden Mullins and Alex Dyer were fantastic for us in the time they were here.

"They were brilliant for us coming across with the transition and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

"But in terms of results, since Wayne, Joe (Dunne) and Dave (Huzzey) have come in, their attention to detail and thoroughness has been second to none.

“The upturn in form since they’ve come in has been remarkable."

Gazette:

Colchester's players have now departed for their summer break, following the final game of the season last weekend.

Many of the U's squad are under contract and will return for pre-season training next month, in readiness for the 2022-23 campaign.

Colchester are set to announce their retained list in the coming days and Skuse says everyone is looking forward to producing a better showing, next time around.

Gazette:

“It’s a fantastic group and you can’t fault any of them day in, day out," added Skuse, who missed the U's final two games of the campaign due to a hamstring injury.

“But we’ve massively under-achieved and fully appreciate that.

"It’s something for us to all look at, as a group in the off season but you need to get your rest and you need to recover.

“But I can pretty much assure you that it won’t be the same, next season.

“Onwards and upwards for next season.

“It’s going to be a busy summer I’m sure but there’s lots to look forward to."