DANNY Cowley admits this summer’s season preparations have probably been the most transitional in his long managerial career.

However, the Colchester United head coach says he is excited by what is building within his squad, as they count down to the brand new League Two campaign.

Teddy Bishop became the U’s 11th new signing on Wednesday when the former Lincoln City and Ipswich Town midfielder joined on a two-year deal.

It has been a close season of change at the JobServe Community Stadium, with a host of players also departing the club for pastures new.

READ MORE: Teddy Bishop made 'right decision' after joining Colchester

Colchester will have a new-look squad for their League Two opener at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and boss Cowley feels things are coming together.

Cowley said: “We need to be a Colchester United image, that’s what we want it to be. I think, for us, to give the team and the club a real identity.

“We want to play with a real energy and intensity, we want to play with personality.

“We like to be aggressive with our play against the ball and win the ball high up the pitch. We like to do our defending early.

“With it, we like the players to think forward, play forward, run forward and be really purposeful.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

“I think we are starting to see those things.

“We are a new group. I don’t think I’ve had as much change from the end of last season to this season, in my career and this is my 16th season.

“There’s been a lot of change, so it will take time to keep building the relationships, I think building the understanding and then building the relationships.

"We’ve grown in the last five weeks; it’s coming together.

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“I think we are excited. I think, as a group, the relationships are building. We’re not going to shout from the rooftops, but we have a steely determination to try to get better every day. This is the ambition.

“The supporters are everything, of course. We know how much this club means to them, we wake up every morning, Nicky and I, with that responsibility.

“It inspires us to work really hard and try to produce a team that they can be really excited about, be really proud of and really be able to connect with and that’s what we spend every minute of every day trying to achieve.

“Just trying to get better every single day - that’s our ambition.

(Image: RICHARD BLAXALL)

"We want to wake up every morning and try to get better. If we can do that, I think we can be really pleased.”

Cowley wants there to be a connection within his Colchester team this season, as his new players adjust to their new surroundings.

“I look back at the six promotions that I’ve had with my teams, there’s always been a spirit and a togetherness, which is really special,” added Cowley.

“And of course, this doesn’t just happen, you have to grow this over time. We’ve had some good activities, we went to David Lloyd at Colchester, we spent an afternoon playing paddle.

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“One of our supporters, who is a season ticket holder, he owns a padel company in Maldon, which was great.

“Then, we were VIPs at the Hollywood Bowl opening which was a good night as well. I think all of those things, you are trying to develop and build.”