COLCHESTER United chairman Robbie Cowling says a number of key players won't be re-signed, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The U's supremo has announced that club captain Luke Prosser, Frank Nouble, Ryan Jackson and Brandon Comley, who were all due to see their contracts expire this summer, will not be retained.

Cowling said it was a 'very difficult decision' to not re-sign a number of players.

But he insisted he 'will not gamble with other people’s livelihoods or with the club', as football gets to grips with the repercussions of the crisis the financial implications that might have.

Cowling also stressed he would 'have no hesitation' in reversing the decision if circumstances changed.

In a statement on the U's website, Cowling said: "I’m not going to sugar coat how difficult things are for Colchester United. Things were not easy beforehand when the club relied on financial support from my other businesses.

"Obviously, things recently got much more difficult and not just for the club but also for my other businesses that normally support it.

"I’m confident that Colchester United will get through this crisis, but we will do so because we are part of a football family that is pulling together.

"The club has a proud record of always paying its players in full and on time. We achieve this because I will never sign a contract if I can’t commit to fulfilling it.

"I just won’t gamble with other people’s livelihoods or with the club.

"It is for that reason that I have had to take the very difficult decision of not re-signing a number of players that under normally circumstances I would have been determined to re-sign.

"I appreciate the decision will make the team less capable when the season does resume but it is very unlikely that we will be the only club to take such a step.

"We will certainly remain competitive as unlike so many other clubs we have a very capable group of Academy players that are ready to step up.

"I could have delayed the decision and hoped for a dramatic change of events but that would have been unfair.

"I wanted to make the decision as early as I could to give those players that are being released a head start in what will be a very difficult environment for out of contract players.

"They find themselves in this difficult situation through no fault of their own and I wish every one of them well.

"Luke Prosser, Frank Nouble, Ryan Jackson and Brandon Comley are the most notable players that this has affected and I have nothing but good things to say about all of them.

"I would have no hesitation in reversing the decision if there were to be a dramatic change of circumstances."