Colchester United Head of Recruitment Ross Embleton on transfer business

Embleton is currently in his first week as the U’s, having been appointed as the club’s new Head of Recruitment.

The former Leyton Orient boss will work closely with newly-installed Colchester first-team head coach Wayne Brown and technical director Steve Ball in attempting to land the players on their summer shortlist, ahead of the new League Two season.

Embleton told Col U TV: “There will obviously be a plan in place here already.

“There will be targets that Wayne and Steve (Ball) and the people with an eye on recruitment will have identified already.

“Part of my job will be to support and hopefully try to get those players that are at the top of the list in over the summer and help that happen.

“It’s been about making the most of the contact time that I have had when people have been around and email and WhatsApp groups that have started.

“I’ve just been trying to make sure we make the most of the communication because I’m so excited about the role and try to hit the ground running and make sure this is a successful window, to give us a platform to have a good season.”

Colchester benefited from eight loan signings last season, with the likes of Owura Edwards, Sylvester Jasper and Sam Hornby all performing well.

Embleton says it is an area of the market the U’s will look to exploit, while at the same time providing a pathway for their own young players to flourish.

He said: “Being a League Two club these days, you have to be in the loan market especially with the clubs who are not too far away from us location-wise.

“It helps you manage your budget by bringing in those young players.

“Collectively, it’s fantastic to see the succession of players coming through which this club has a rich history and a real focus on doing.

“The development of young players is important and that of young coaches, which I think is also an important part of the process as well.

“You’re developing the people within your club to make sure that you get that succession, of players coming through into the team.

“By the time I’d left Leyton Orient and went back a second time, a third of our squad was from our academy as well as loan players.”

Embleton says Colchester will be looking at more than just a player's ability on the pitch when they bring in new signings.

The 40-year-old has highlighted the need to sign players who will not only fit into Brown's system but also bring the right kind of personality in the squad.

Embleton said: “The sole focus for my role will be to go out and identify players but not just say ‘this is Player A, he’s the best player we can get’ – it’s how they’re going to fit into the system that Wayne Brown wants, how are we going to bring this player and how is he going to be suitable for Colchester United and not just the best player that’s out there.

“I think it’s about having a plan in place to make sure that we’re communicating.

“We have regular meetings and we have a team of scouts out there including myself out there not only looking for the best players and the best players for Colchester.

“It’s a big part of what we have to do as a team of people and from my perspective, that’s obviously already started.

“There’s names of players on lists at the moment and it’s about digging around and finding out what he’s like as a lad, what he’s like in terms of his work ethic in training, what he’s like social media wise, is he the right type of character to come into the group.

“Sometimes, it’s not just about necessarily signing the best player to go out there on a Saturday.

“If he’s disruptive or doesn’t live his life that’s professional, we want people who come with a bit more of a package and fit into the group, because that’s a massive part of management."