Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling says Tony Humes and Tony Ashby "share the club's visions and its values" after adding them to the U's board of directors.

The duo have joined chairman Robbie Cowling and Kevin Bull on the U's board, after being elevated to director status.

Former Colchester manager Humes has been working as the club's director of football for the past 12 months while ex-U's academy manager Ashby is director of football operations.

Cowling told the U's official website: "Tony Humes and Tony Ashby already work full-time in their roles as Director of Football and Director of Football Operations respectively, but they have demonstrated to me that they care about Colchester United way beyond what can normally be expected from employees.

"Therefore I am delighted that they have both accepted my offer to join the Board.

"It is important for me to have fellow directors who share the club's visions and its values and, having worked with them both for a number of years, I know that is the case.

"The next few years are going to be very important for Colchester United.

"We're starting to see the benefits of the club's policy to develop and promote our Academy players, but it's a long term policy and we still have a lot of work to do.

"As always I look forward to the challenges and I know I can rely on the support that my fellow directors have always provided me with."