[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed former Leyton Orient defender Rob Hunt on a two-year contract.

Hunt made 72 appearances in two years with Orient before his release at the end of last season.

He began his career at Brighton & Hove Albion, making one start for their senior side in the FA Cup, before spells with Oldham Athletic and Swindon Town.

"I’m delighted to get the deal over the line and get going on the first day of pre-season," the 28-year-old told the Colchester website.

He is the fifth summer signing by U's boss Danny Cowley following Matt Macey, Harry Anderson, Ben Goodliffe and John-Kymani Gordon.

Colchester finished 22nd in League Two last season, just three points clear of the relegation places.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed midfielder Jack Payne on a two-year deal.

The 29-year-old recently left Charlton Athletic at the end of his contract. He spent last season on loan with MK Dons, where he made 40 appearances in League Two.

Payne began his career with Southend United and helped them to win the League Two play-offs in 2014.

In 2019, he signed for Lincoln City, who were then managed by current U's boss Danny Cowley.

"I’ve worked with Danny before and we keep in touch generally, so when the summer came and I became a free agent, discussions started taking place," Payne told the Colchester's website, external.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed former Nottingham Forest striker Lyle Taylor on a one-year contract after he was released by Cambridge United earlier in the summer.

The 34-year-old Montserrat international scored three goals in 14 appearances during his four months with Cambridge last season.

Taylor had started last season with Wycombe, but the former Sheffield United, Bournemouth and AFC Wimbledon striker failed to score in nine appearances before the end of his short-term contract with the Chairboys.

Colchester will be the 18th club Taylor has signed for after first emerging with Millwall as a youth player, with the latest move reuniting him with the coaching team of Danny and Nicky Cowley, who he played for at non-league side Concord Rangers early in his career.

"They, Danny and Nicky, have said 'we don't want you to come in just for you, we want you to come in for what you know and what you can pass on to the younger players'," Taylor told the club website.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have made their eighth summer signing by bringing in experienced defender Adam Woodyard on a one-year contract following his exit from National League side York City.

Woodyard, 31, who began his career with Essex rivals Southend United, has played for the Cowley brothers three times before - first in non-league football at Concord Rangers and Braintree Town, then Lincoln City.

He then moved on to Peterborough United, Tranmere Rovers and AFC Wimbledon before dropping back into non-league with York City last season.

"Alex is a boy that we picked up when he had just left Southend at Concord Rangers. And he did brilliantly for us," boss Danny Cowley told BBC Radio Essex.

"You can see the strategy behind all of our signings. To sign boys that have had success in Essex before, that maybe have roots in Essex and the local area, is so important. Some that we've worked with before.

"We were a little bit short of personality last year and we wanted to try to add a little bit more character to the group and a little bit more experience to help some of the younger players.

"We've got some brilliant young players here. But I said this before, it takes a village to develop one young player. So to have the right support around them, not just off the pitch, but also on the pitch, is really important."

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed Northern Ireland international Tom Flanagan on a one-year contract.

The 32-year-old defender made 25 appearances for Shrewsbury Town last season before being released by the League One club.

Colchester finished 20th in League Two last season and Flanagan is their ninth summer signing as boss Danny Cowley continues to revamp his squad.

"At my age, I want to finish up with a bit of success and enjoy my last few years," Flanagan told the club website.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed Alfie Bendle after he was released by Forest Green Rovers earlier this summer.

After impressing during a trial with the U's, he has been given a one-year contract.

Last season the 19-year-old made 15 appearances in National League South for Eastbourne Borough.

"I was really buzzing," Bendle told the club website, external.

"As soon as I heard it was an opportunity for me I was 'Yes, let's give this a go and see what happens'.

"As soon as my agent told me, I was thinking 'Get me there and let's give it a crack'."

Colchester will get their League Two campaign under way on 10 August when they travel away to AFC Wimbledon.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have signed midfielder Teddy Bishop from Lincoln City on a free transfer.

The 28-year-old scored 15 goals in 112 games for the Imps after joining from Ipswich Town in 2021.

Bishop becomes Colchester's 11th summer signing having put pen to paper on a two-year contract.

"I would have liked to have been here and settled maybe a couple of weeks ago, but it's been in the pipeline for a little while," he told the club's website., external

"It was just a big decision for me, but I think I've made the right decision.

"I believe in the project, the managers had put together a really good presentation to me and I like where the club is going."

Bishop began his career at Ipswich, coming through the academy before making 132 appearances and scoring five goals for the Tractor Boys.

Colchester begin their League Two campaign away at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

[themaclad]

Colchester United have made season-long loan deals for Nottingham Forest midfielder Jamie McDonnell and Portsmouth striker Anthony Scully.

McDonnell, 20, has made regular appearances for Forest's under-21 side but has not yet played for the first team.

Scully, 25, played six times for Pompey last season.

Colchester have three points from their opening three League Two games of the season and visit Accrington on Saturday.