DANNY Cowley admits it was the 'right time' for some of Colchester United's young players to move on, this summer.

The U's released a dozen under-21 players at the end of last season, including Gene Kennedy, Donell Thomas and Harry Beadle while Milton Oni, Kien Connolly, Max Jolliffe and Harrison Chamberlain have all signed their first professional contracts with the club, this summer.

More promising young players are expected to be added to the academy ranks in the coming weeks and boss Cowley says Colchester can provide them with an opportunity to emulate Jayden Fevrier in shining for the first team.

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Cowley said: “We have a lot of trust in our academy and academy staff – I think it’s a brilliant academy.

“We’re very respectful in that they know their players much better than we do, especially in the time frame that we’ve been here.

“It was very much to be guided by them.

“When you look at our under-20s and under-21s, Junior (Tchamadeu) has already gone to Stoke, Samson and Bradley are already in our first team, Frankie Terry is close and on the periphery of that.

(Image: PPA UK)

“I think by that age, you have to make a decision and if by the age of 20 or 21 they’re not in touching distance of the first team, then probably that’s the right time for the club but also for the player to move on.

“There’ll be boys that we release this summer that we absolutely think will go on and have good careers; it’s just sometimes, they just run their race at a club like Gene Kennedy, for example.

“I have real confidence in Gene finding his way back into professional football but sometimes they just run their race, at that club and you just have to give them that freedom to move on.

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“What that then does is for us to find space to find the next Jayden Fevrier.

“This time last year, for example, it was Jayden and if you have space to be aggressive with those age groups, it can be exciting for the club as well.

“I definitely think we’ll look to bring in three or four under-20, under-21s that will hopefully will be able to fight for the first team.

(Image: STEVE BRADING)

“Jayden is a great example for us when we’re speaking to these young players of the pathway we can create here.”