COLCHESTER United head coach Wayne Brown insists their summer signings must have the right characteristics - both on and off the pitch.

The U's have already brought in three players, with Rochdale midfielder Alex Newby arriving on a two-year deal and Sam Hornby and Emyr Huws returning.

Colchester are still in the market for more additions, with head of recruitment Ross Embleton confirming that they are seeking to further bolster.

Brown says the number of players they already had contracted to the club means there will be fewer signings this summer, compared to last time around.

And the newly-installed U's boss has stressed that anyone they do bring to the JobServe Community Stadium must have the correct personality to fit into his squad.

Brown said: “We inherited a squad of players and a big number of those players were already contracted for this year.

“In terms of the amount of incomings we had last year, it’s going to be totally different this year because we have a budget to work to and you only need a certain amount of players, with the budget that you’ve got.

“There’s been a lot of work done over the summer and it’s an ongoing process – the process that goes into that is phenomenal.

“Your due diligence on that is vital.

Gazette:

“Not only have they got to have the right technical ability and fitness and attributes on the pitch; they’ve also got to have the right character, off the pitch.

“We’ve got a real good dynamic in the group at the moment and the last thing that we want is to get one wrong and bring someone into the environment who’s going to upset that.

“It’s really vital that not only we get the right person that can do the business on the pitch; they’ve also got to have the right characteristics off the pitch with the right values to match ours, along with the ambition.

“These two individuals (Huws and Hornby) have the right character and values and having worked with them for half a season, we know that already.

“That’s a big part of the recruitment drive, getting the right individuals with the right character and the right values to come into what is a real good group.

“There’s a real good dynamic to the group and they’re going to add to the group and that’s all we’re looking to do."

Colchester continue their preparations for the new League Two season with a match at Vanarama National League South side Bath City at Twerton Park tonight (7pm kick-off).

The U's will use the game to get more minutes into their players ahead of the big League Two kick-off, which starts with a trip to play Northampton Town on July 30.