Colchester United boss Danny Cowley on free agent signings
DANNY Cowley says Colchester United are unlikely to turn to free agents in a bid to boost their depleted attacking options.
The U’s strikeforce has recently been blunted by the hip flexor injury suffered by young forward Samson Tovide, who is set to be out for a number of weeks.
In addition, Owura Edwards remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and Teddy Bishop is still out with an ankle problem, while Anthony Scully has just returned from a knee issue.
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Colchester sold Bradley Ihionvien to Peterborough United on transfer deadline day.
And while he concedes Ihionvien’s departure suited all parties, Cowley admits the young forward’s absence is now telling, in the wake of Tovide’s injury lay-off.
Colchester are unable to make any more signings until the transfer window reopens, in January.
However, when asked about the possibility of bringing in a free agent before then to boost their forward options, the U’s boss said: “I don’t think so.
“When you’re in October, anybody that’s a free agent will have been so since the summer, so by the time you get them to anywhere near match ready or game fit, then you’re probably talking about January anyway.
“We always knew that if we lost Samson and Bradley (Ihionvien) on deadline day, it would hurt us.
“But at the same time, I totally understand why we did what we did, because the offer we had for Bradley was a really good one and as a football club, this is the model that we’re working with.
“I still believe that it can be a really successful model.
“Of course, sometimes it means it takes a little bit longer because if you can keep all your best players and add to your best players, then of course you’ll have quicker success.
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“But if you’re using a model where you are developing the players, then enjoying the players and then cashing in on the assets and then using that to help the club moving forward, then the process is a slightly more gradual one.
“It’s our job to try to accelerate that and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Colchester currently lie 21st in the League Two and without a win in six matches, following their 2-1 defeat to Salford City at the weekend.
Cowley added: “We have to reflect and all look at ourselves and see how we can help the team, because there’s no hiding place.
“We’re in a difficult moment – we’ve lost some pace and some athleticism at the top end of the pitch.
“Teddy speeds the game up, Owura and Samson give you real directness and athleticism.
“We obviously sold a lot of athleticism in the summer as well, so when you do that and your athleticism is injured, that leaves you a bit short and that’s where we find ourselves at the moment.”
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