Colchester United head coach John McGreal insists they have “irons in the fire” should their out-of-contract players choose to quit the club.

The U’s are hoping for answers this week from their existing squad members who were offered new deals, at the end of last season.

It has now been a month since the likes of George Elokobi, Richard Brindley, Drey Wright and Tom Eastman were presented with new terms to stay at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Colchester are also waiting for answers from Lewis Kinsella, Kane Vincent-Young, Diaz Wright, Dean Brill and Charley Edge, who have also been offered new deals.

The U’s are looking for a response but should any of their out-of-contract players choose to follow Chris Porter out of the club, boss McGreal says they have laid down foundations to deal with that scenario.

McGreal told the Daily Gazette: “If the players we’ve offered contracts to don’t sign, we have things in place to deal with that.

“The time is coming up shortly where they will need to give us a reply.

“We’ve offered players contracts because we want to build on what we did last season but we do have irons in the fire.

“We’ve been doing a lot of homework with Tony Humes and Iain Moody and touching base with them on a regular basis.

“We’ve got options but we’re keeping them close to our chest.

“Agents have been pushing their players towards us and I’m still getting lots of phone calls.

“It’s coming on the back of us having a good season, where we built up a really good momentum.

“There are a lot of people trying to push players towards our football club at the moment.”

Meanwhile, McGreal believes Sammie Szmodics benefited from playing alongside Porter last season – and now expects the forward to “push on” with his career.

Szmodics missed a large chunk of the 2016-17 campaign due to injury but is expected to be fit for the new season where Colchester will be without Chris Porter, who left for their League Two rivals Crewe Alexandra last month.

“I think Sammie in particular really benefited from playing near Chris Porter in the team,” added McGreal.

“They linked up really well and formed a bit of a partnership and it was a real shame that Sammie picked up those injuries.

“Sammie’s now at the stage of his career where he’s getting a bit more experienced and looking to push on.

“We’re disappointed to see Chris go but that’s football – it’s just one of those things.

“He is at the stage of his career where he’s looking for longevity and with his family going back up north, I think that’s been a factor.

“He’s getting married shortly so there are a lot of things taken into consideration.

“We offered Chris a contract and he chose not to sign it but he’s been brilliant for the club and for me and Steve (Ball) on a day to day basis and it’s no coincidence that he really enjoyed his football at the club.”