COLCHESTER United are set to have a new-look squad when they begin the 2023-24 season.
A host of first-team players left the U's last month, many of them with years of experience in the game.
A number of first teamers departed Colchester before the end of last summer's transfer window, too - the Gazette looks at where they have ended up, 12 months on.
BRENDAN WIREDU
Wiredu left to link up with League One side Fleetwood Town for a six-figure fee in June, 2022.
Wiredu, who made 75 appearances for the U's during his two spells with the club, signed a three-year contract with the Cod Army.
The 23-year-old made 47 league and cup appearances for Fleetwood in his first season with the club and claimed their Player of the Month award for both December and January.
SHAMAL GEORGE
Goalkeeper George departed Colchester last summer after two seasons to join cinch Scottish Premiership club Livingston a week before the new season started.
The 25-year-old made his debut against Glasgow Rangers and clocked up 35 appearances for Livi, helping them finish in eighth place.
MILES WELCH-HAYES
After his release by Colchester last summer, defender Welch-Hayes joined their League Two rivals Harrogate Town.
Welch-Hayes, who spent two and a half years at the U's, made his debut for Harrogate in a 3-0 win over Swindon Town on the opening day of the season.
He made ten league starts for Simon Weaver's side, before moving to non-league outfit Altrincham in January.
DEAN GERKEN
Experienced goalkeeper Gerken brought the curtain down on his impressive playing career at the end of last season and departed the U's.
The 38-year-old made 206 appearances in total for the U's in his two spells for the club, having progressed through their youth ranks and made his senior debut for them back in 2004.
The U's promotion winner returned to his former club Bristol City shortly after retiring from playing, to take up an academy coaching role with the Championship side.
SAM HORNBY
Goalkeeper Hornby returned to parent club Bradford City at the end of last season, following the completion of his loan spell with the U's.
After impressing under Wayne Brown, the U's snapped up the shot-stopper on a two-year deal from the Bantams, for an undisclosed fee.
Hornby made 16 appearances for Colchester in the 2022-23 season but was sidelined for the final three months of the campaign with a shoulder injury.
MYLES KENLOCK
Kenlock was drafted in on loan by the U's from Ipswich Town in January, 2022.
The left-back made 20 appearances for the U's under Wayne Brown, scoring three times.
Kenlock was released by Ipswch last summer and soon after signed for Colchester's League Two rivals Barrow, where he made 13 league and cup appearances before departing to join Aldershot Town on a free transfer in January.
In the second half of the season, the 26-year-old clocked up nine appearances for the National League side, where he was team-mates with U's youngster Jake Hutchinson who was on loan at the Shots.
ARMANDO DOBRA
Dobra made 17 league and cup appearances for Colchester on loan from Ipswich Town, in the first half of the 2021-22 season.
Like Kenlock, midfielder Dobra returned to Town following the completion of his loan spell at the U's and departed Portman Road last July, by mutual consent.
The Albanian under-21 international linked up with his former manager Paul Cook at Chesterfield, helping them reach the National League play-offs where they lost out to Notts County in the final.
OWURA EDWARDS
Winger Edwards impressed for Colchester in the second half of the 2021-22 season, while on loan from Bristol City.
He made an immediate impression for the U's, scoring on his debut at Sutton United and made 13 appearances for the club in total, scoring three times.
The 22-year-old returned to the Robins after his loan spell at Colchester had ended and has spent the season at Scottish Premiership club Ross County, where he made 36 appearances.
CORIE ANDREWS
Striker Andrews was another player who spent time on loan at Colchester, in the second half of the 2021-22 season.
He clocked up 11 appearances for the U's on loan from AFC Wimbledon, scoring once before returning to his parent club last summer.
Andrews was released by the Dons soon after and linked up with Torquay United.
After making 12 league appearances for the Gulls, the 25-year-old signed for their National League rivals Wealdstone in January on an 18-month deal and scored three times in 13 league starts for the club, in the second half of the season.
TYREIK WRIGHT
Wright spent the second half of last season on loan at Colchester from Aston Villa.
The 21-year-old made 12 appearances for the U's under Wayne Brown, scoring once, before returning to Villa Park.
He joined Bradford City on loan last September and then linked up with Plymouth Argyle on a permanent basis in January, helping them secure promotion from League One.
Wright made six appearances for the Pilgrims, in the 2022-23 campaign and will be hoping to make an impression for them in the Championship, next season.
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