ROSS Embleton has revealed he did plenty of 'research and planning' prior to arriving at Colchester United.

And the U's new Head of Recruitment says his new position is an exciting role for him to undertake.

Embleton has set about helping Colchester bring in some new signings ahead of the forthcoming League Two campaign, following his appointment earlier this month.

The former Leyton Orient boss watched the U's on several occasions at the JobServe Community Stadium, last season.

He says he is looking forward to helping Colchester go from strength to strength.

Embleton told Col U TV: “I’m really excited and passionate about the role and the opportunity to work at this football club.

“I’ve done a lot of research and planning and been to a number of games here this season, so I know what the place has got to offer.

“It’s a great stadium, fantastic training ground - I’m really excited about coming to work here.

“It’s a great opportunity for me in terms of the recruitment role but also in terms of what the club is about, it’s a real attraction for me as well."

Embleton will work closely with head coach Wayne Brown and technical director Steve Ball in attempting to land the players on Colchester's summer shortlist.

The 40-year-old says he it is important to take some of the workload off Brown, who is preparing for his first season in permanent charge of the U's.

Embleton said: “There will be people who say ‘what do you need a director of football or head of recruitment for?’

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"But there are not enough hours in the day for Wayne to go about his job, foot to the floor, solely focused on the team and individual players within his squad and that responsibility and then do all of the recruitment himself.

"I think that tradition has really changed and it’s about having a process in place where we all contribute.

“The game is a lot more intricate now, because there’s a lot more thought that needs to go into it.

“There’s more planning and more time that needs to be spent to make sure that you get the right product and the right outcome, at the end of it because there’s so much riding on it.

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New challenge - Ross Embleton is Colchester United's new Head of Recruitment Picture: PA

“There’s salaries and money being spent on these people and time and effort.

“Ultimately, when you look at it from the perspective of managers and coaches it’s career defining.

“It’s about making the right decisions to give yourself the right opportunity and platform to be successful, both as a club and as a manager."

Embleton has vast experience in the game, including a 13-month spell in charge of Orient.

He managed the O's on a permanent basis from January 2020 until February 2021, following a period in interim charge at Brisbane Road.

He has also had academy coaching time at Tottenham Hotspur, AFC Bournemouth and Swindon Town.

“It’s obviously a career that I’m proud of," added Embleton.

“I started off as a community coach at Leyton Orient when I got released as a young player.

“Like a lot of other people, I lived the dream up until I was 16 and clearly wasn’t good enough so I put a hell of a lot into my coaching which was always at the forefront of what I did as a young lad leaving college.

“I stayed at Leyton Orient for a very long time and had numerous roles at the club, mainly within the academy before leaving and going on to Tottenham.

“It was an academy role there with a little bit of a different structure.

“It wasn’t necessarily about coaching; I brought in young players to the club and without it being a type of recruitment role, it was about attracting people, parents, top young players across London and surrounding areas into Tottenham’s flourishing academy with players now that have gone onto play for the first team and international football – players like Harry Kane that I was able to see develop.

“It was a real opportunity to see what top football looks like."