Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling on League Two season

But the Colchester United chairman is nevertheless optimistic the club can enjoy a productive campaign.

The U’s are preparing for their eighth successive season in the fourth tier and are hoping for a better year this time around, after three campaigns in a row of battling against relegation.

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They are part of a highly competitive division, with the addition of the likes of Wrexham, Notts County and MK Dons set to increase the standard of competition.

However, Colchester finished the season well under head coach Ben Garner – and U’s supremo Cowling is feeling confident they can enjoy better times as they strive to compete at the top end of the division.

Speaking at the U’s Open Day, Mr Cowling said: “I’m really optimistic for the season.

“I say that every season, because if you can’t be optimistic at this point of the season, there’s sort of no point but there are more reasons to be optimistic as well.

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“There’s a lot of things that have gone on at the club for us to believe that we can have a much better season.

“I do think this is the toughest League Two there’s been, in the history of League Two.

“It’s crazy this year.

“I know quite a few of the chairmen in League One at the moment are struggling to sign players because they’re losing out to some of the clubs in League Two that are just paying astronomical sums of money.

“But I’m optimistic because we’re really looking to do things in a slightly different way to everybody else.

“We’re not always exactly after the same sort of players.”

Mr Cowling says Colchester are in a much better state now than they have been in most recent years.

The U’s chairman and owner revealed the Covid pandemic had a detrimental effect on his businesses, which in turn limited his financial input into the football club.

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However, he says they are now in a much healthier position – allowing him to give the club increased support.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it – I think the last couple of years have been very tough for the club,” added Mr Cowling.

“We’re all optimistic that it will be a better year, this year.

“The pandemic did affect my particular businesses maybe worse than others and I think everybody is aware that the club does rely on my businesses to support it financially.

“If I could give an analogy about why we can be a bit more realistic, it will be a bit like being on a flight when they give the safety information and they say you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself, before you help other people.

“That’s sort of what it’s been like for me and my businesses; I’ve had to make sure that they were safe and that they were there for the long term for the club, without putting the money perhaps into the club.

“We’re in a much better position now, where I can do that a bit more for the club and can give a bit more help.”