COLCHESTER United assistant manager Alex Dyer insists they want to be a force in League Two, this season.

The U’s are preparing for their sixth successive year in the fourth tier and are hopeful of enjoying a better campaign this time around, following last season’s struggles.

There has been plenty of change at the JobServe Community Stadium this summer, with Hayden Mullins taking over as head coach on a permanent basis and seven new signings brought in.

Dyer was appointed as Mullins’ right-hand man last month and the former Kilmarnock boss says he is looking forward to a productive first season with the U’s.

He said: “We don’t just want to make up the numbers – we want to give it a really good go.

“That’s the message that the gaffer has been telling them since they came back.

“We don’t want a season like last season – we want to kick on and do the best we can and that hopefully means being in the top half of the league and see where it takes us.

“We need to start well and we get that with hard work and a good set of lads who are willing to put the shift in – that makes it a lot easier.

“It’s been good since I’ve been here.

“The boys have trained very well and it’s a good bunch – a really good set of lads and a good mix of both young and old at the football club.”

Gazette:

Dyer was appointed as Colchester’s new assistant manager, last month.

The 55-year-old was most recently in charge at Scottish club Kilmarnock and has also had coaching roles at the likes of West Ham United, Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town.

“It’s great to be here and great to have the opportunity to come to the football club and work with the gaffer,” said Dyer, who was reserve-team manager at West Ham during Mullins’ playing days at Upton Park.

“I’ve known him for quite a while, from my days at West Ham when he was there as a player.

“We’ve always kept in touch and he asked me when I was out of work if I wanted to come in and assist him and I grabbed the chance.”

In addition to knowing Mullins from earlier in his career, Dyer has also been reunited with U’s duo Freddie Sears and Frank Nouble who were emerging young professionals during his time at West Ham.

Dyer added: “I saw Freddie when I signed, when I came in.

“I was talking to the chairman and Freddie was there and I had a good chat with him.

“At the time, the likes of Freddie and Frank were only young boys at West Ham at the age of 18 or 19 and just starting off in their career.

“Freddie had just got into the first team under Curbs (Alan Curbishley) and was making his way.

“Frank was with me in the ressies and you could see the potential.

“It’s nice to see that they’ve stayed in the game and had good careers.

“It was nice to know that I’d have some friendly faces there.”