Kevin Keen says he has accepted the fact that Colchester United will be playing their football in League Two next season.

But the U’s manager says he will be using the final three games of the campaign to plan for a brighter future, both next year and beyond.

Colchester’s eight-year spell in the third tier will come to an end tomorrow if they fail to beat promotion-chasing Burton Albion.

The U's lie eight points from safety with three games remaining and with their inferior goal difference, their days in the third tier now look numbered.

Keen said: “I’ve accepted it.

“I think there’s a point-one per cent chance (of staying up), so there has to be some sort of realism.

“There’s still a tiny hope but we have to realistic about it.

“We’re not just building for this year – we have to make sure we’re doing things right for the future, too.

“The atmosphere has been mixed. It’s been a tough day today. I couple of things happened in training and around the training ground.

“It’s been a little bit of a tester of my managerial skills.

“But I’m sure that come Saturday, whatever XI I start with, and whatever squad we use, they’ll be ready and up for the game because the fans deserve that.

“The fans have seen some good performances, if not good results and some entertaining matches and hopefully tomorrow will be the same.”

Keen revealed he may make alterations against Burton, as he plans ahead for the coming months.

“It may be that I tweak a couple of things and try a few new things, because I need to look to the future,” said Keen, who could recall Elliot Lee to his starting line-up after he missed the U’s midweek draw at Crewe Alexandra because of injury.

“I’ve got to look after the football club and think about how we’re going to attempt to do things next year.

“But I want to win the game and Burton will know that, if they look at any of our games.

“Anyone who watches us will know we go out and win football matches.”