COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal has admitted feeling "proud and privileged" as he prepares for his 200th game as U's boss.

The 47-year-old took over on May 4, 2016, replacing Kevin Keen, and his first game in charge was a 1-1 draw at Hartlepool United, on the opening day of the following League Two campaign.

Since then, he has overseen three seasons in the managerial hotseat - twice missing out on the play-offs by a single point on the last day of the season.

Now, with his team just outside the top seven again, with ten games left, he has vowed to go one better and hopefully guide the club back into League One.

"It's a brilliant milestone and something I'm very proud of," said McGreal, whose 200th game will be tomorrow's trek to Carlisle United.

"I just missed out on 500 appearances as a player, so to get to 200 games as a manager is a great achievement. Especially in this day and age.

"It's gone really quickly.

"I remember saying on my first day that it would be a rollercoaster of emotions and that there would be peaks and troughs.

"That's certainly been the case, but we've tried our hardest to keep a level of consistency throughout.

"I've learnt an awful lot and had lots of advice from managers and ex-managers.

"I've tried to build a rapport with the fans and bring a winning mentality into the team.

"This season's cup run (to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup) was huge and a big personal highlight, beating two Premier League sides and then drawing Manchester United.

"But it's not just about me.

"It's about the club, the team and my staff and we're all trying our hardest to keep moving forward and to keep bringing the academy boys through.

"There have been some great games and days when the fans have really turned out in force.

"Now we want to go one better than we've managed in recent years, by proving ourselves and finishing in the play-offs.

"That's the aim and that's the challenge - for me, my staff and the players. It's one we're really looking forward to.

"I'm fortunate to be at a very progressive club and although we've just dropped out of the play-offs, by a point, we've now got ten big games left to put things right."

McGreal enjoyed a distinguished career as a player, spending the best part of a decade with Tranmere Rovers before joining George Burley's Ipswich Town.

It was during his time at Portman Road that he achieved his goal of playing Premier League football, helping the Blues win the old First Division play-off final against Barnsley at Wembley.

McGreal and Town finished fifth in their first season in the top flight, securing European football, and the defender popped up memorable goals against the likes of Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

He later played for Burnley before starting on the coaching trail, studying for his UEFA B Licence and working within Colchester's academy, managing the club's under-18s and under-21s.

"I was very fortunate to play until I was 35," said McGreal, whose first win in charge was a 2-0 success against Cambridge United, on August 13, 2016.

"I thought I could carry on but my wife reminded me I could barely walk in the morning, when I got out of bed.

"I knew the time was right to hang up my boots, although I was gutted not to get to 500 games. I think I got to 497 games.

"Being a manager is totally different and every single day is different.

"It's 25 hours a day, eight days a week. Morning, noon and night.

"You go to bed and wake up thinking about your team, your next session and your next game.

"You're out watching games when you can, as well as trying to keep your own house in order.

"There are players to deal with - numbers, training sessions and the academy.

"We have a clear pathway so we're constantly having meetings about the next boys coming through, so it's not just about the first team.

"There are agents to speak to, especially in the build-up to and during transfer windows.

"And then there's the media, which you can't palm off on anyone else.

"Win, lose or draw, you have to come out and face the press, whereas as a player you might be able to deflect it onto someone else.

"Tons of thought goes into being a manager - something you don't realise or appreciate when you're playing.

"As a player, you come in and do your job.

"You have your breakfast, train, get your weights done, go through video analysis and then tend to get home."

McGreal still picks the brains of friends and former colleagues in the game, including ex-U's boss Burley.

"I try to switch off when I'm at home but it's very difficult," he said.

"I speak to George (Burley) a lot and people like Steve Cotterill.

"I like to pick their brains, because they've been at the top level, and even they find it hard (to have down time).

"That's the nature of the job but I'm a big believer that having pressure is a privilege.

"It means you're doing something you care about and doing something with your life.

"I was fortunate enough to have a career as a player and now I'm trying to forge a career as a manager.

"I like making decisions and being part of decision-making processes and wouldn't want to do anything different. It's very enjoyable."