TONY Humes admits any contract talks have been put on hold until Colchester United’s fate is sealed.

A number of U’s players will see their existing deals at the Weston Homes Community Stadium expire in the summer.

Senior players such as David Fox, Magnus Okuonghae, Sanchez Watt and Jabo Ibehre are all out of contract, at the end of the current campaign.

But with Colchester embroiled in a desperate battle for their League One status, boss Humes said any formal talks will not take place until the season has finished.

Humes said: “Everything to do with that gets put on the back burner and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”

Colchester lie six points adrift of safety with eight games remaining, following Leyton Orient's win at Coventry City last night.

They head into their game at Port Vale tomorrow desperate for points, in order to ease their relegation fears.

Colchester drew their last game 2-2 at Gillingham.

That took their total number of league draws this season to eight, fewer than any of the bottom six sides in the table.

And 13 of Colchester’s 20 defeats in the league this season have been by a single goal, including four of their last five losses.

“We’ve lost 13 games by one goal,” said Humes.

“You turn half of them or seven of them into a draw and we’re a lot further up the table.

“It’s getting away from losing the game by the odd goal and it’s a massive thing that we have to turn around.

“It’s about keeping the players going and keeping that togetherness. We have to stay strong and make sure that nobody gets downhearted.

“They put their bodies on the line (against Gillingham) and you can see that there’s a great spirit amongst the players.

“They want to get out of the situation that they’re in and they’re not giving up.

“It’s just that the players have to make better decisions when they’re on the pitch sometimes.”