HAYDEN Mullins believes he has joined a 'progressive' club after becoming Colchester United's new assistant manager.

The 41-year-old has today been appointed as Steve Ball's number two, at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Mullins has ended his four-year spell at Championship side Watford to become Ball's assistant, ahead of the new 2020-21 season.

And the former West Ham United midfielder says he is excited about his new role.

Speaking at the U's Florence Park training ground earlier today, Mullins said: "It's a very good club - it's a progressive club.

"I spoke to the directors of the club before joining and I saw the way and the direction in which the club wants to go.

"It's a fantastic club for me to join and it's one where I can hopefully can come here and learn and grow.

"It's great to be a part of.

"There's loads for me to learn - I think you're learning until the day you retire.

"I'll be learning from Steve (Ball) and the staff here and the players and as an ex-player and coach, trying to give them as much knowledge as I can.

"I sat down, I saw the presentation and the direction the club wants to go in and it's fantastic."

Mullins has plenty of experience of working with young players, having worked as Watford under-23s manager.

Now he is looking forward to coaching some of the talented youngsters at Colchester, where there is a particular emphasis on the pathway between the academy and the first team.

"For me, the academy and the youth players are the lifeblood of a lot of football clubs," said Mullins, who made more than 600 career appearances for the likes of Crystal Palace, West Ham and Portsmouth. "I enjoyed my time working within the academy at Watford and I feel like I'm quite experienced, in that department.

"Having worked with the first team at Watford for the last six months of the season and the two stints I had as caretaker, working in the first team were also great experience.

"I'm here to assist and help Steve in any way I can and help him with anything he needs."

Mullins' first game as Colchester's new assistant manager will be their Carabao Cup first-round tie at Reading, on Saturday.

"It's slightly strange starting with a cup game - but the last six months have been strange all round, coming back with Covid, being tested three times a week and having no fans in the stadium," added Mullins, who had a loan spell at Reading in 2012.

"(Playing a cup game first) is just another thing to add to it but it's a game of football at the end of the day.

"We're back for the start of the season which is brilliant and the gaffer and the players are chomping at the bit to get started and so am I."