COLCHESTER United boss Steve Ball admits the departure of out-of-favour players will enable them to free up some cash in this month’s transfer window.

The U’s are willing to listen to offers for players in their squad who have struggled for game time, this season.

And if squad members do leave the JobServe Community Stadium before the deadline on February 1, it will enable them to generate funds to bring in new faces – with a new striker at the top of their wanted list.

Ball did not name the players who have been made available for transfer, by the U’s.

But the likes of Paris Cowan-Hall and Luke Gambin have hardly featured for Colchester and neither made the U’s final 18 for their home clash with Cambridge United, last Saturday.

Ball said: “We’ve had loose enquiries about a couple of our boys who haven’t been playing, which is pretty common place at this time of year.

“I don’t think it would be hard for you to work out who those players might be.

“That’s the same for any club.

“There have been circulars put out for those players which is best for their careers and if we can free some money up, that will work in our favour.

“It’s never personal and we’ve seen loads of movement already, in this window.

“We’ve got two or three who have had hardly any game time this season and I’m sure they as much as us if they’re honest about it would want to go on and kick on with their careers elsewhere.”

Meanwhile, Ball has revealed his Colchester players expressed their concerns about the rain-sodden Community Stadium pitch, prior to their 1-1 draw with Cambridge.

U's head groundsman David Blacknall and a number of club staff worked hard to clear the pitch of snow before kick-off but it nevertheless proved a tricky surface to play on.

“The players weren’t too comfortable in the warm up, I have to say," added Ball.

“They came back in after that and said it was very dangerous out there and quite treacherous.

“There was a couple of moments when the ball stuck which can be dangerous when the players are going at full pace and their feet stick but we got through it OK touch wood with no major injuries.

“I came in from Norfolk where I live and there was torrential snow – I had to turn around twice to get here.

“I got here thinking ‘there’s no way the game is on’ but credit to a lot of staff here like the chief executive, Tim Waddington, David Gregory and others who helped clear the pitch to get the game on, which was brilliant.

“When we first got here I think the players were thinking ‘why is this game on’ but credit to all 22 players plus the subs.

“We got through it – we’d have liked to have won but it’s a positive point.

“There would have been some officials who’d have called it off but there’s been lots of games called off for Covid reasons and we just wanted to play.”