John McGreal has vowed to get Colchester United moving in the right direction again after being appointed as the club’s new first-team coach.

And the new U’s boss has insisted he will be his own man, as he attempts to improve the club’s fortunes following their relegation to League Two.

McGreal was unveiled as Colchester’s seventh permanent manager in the space of eight years, after being unveiled as Kevin Keen’s successor at a press conference at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The 43-year-old former Ipswich Town and Burnley defender has made the step up from his role as U’s under-21 boss to the first-team hot seat – and says he cannot wait to get going.

McGreal said: “The club excites me.

“There’s a support mechanism now.

“It didn’t feel quite right last time but it does help.

“We’re learning as we go along but because we do know each other we will try and make it work.

“It’s a new role of first-team coach - that means there’s going to be a lot of grass time for myself, which I do enjoy.

“I’m going to be working with young players, as well as trying to develop myself by recruiting the better players and trying to bring them into the club.

“And to take the club forward again.

“It’s not nice to have been relegated, but it’s a great time to try and get Colchester United moving in the right direction again - what better time than now?”

McGreal played under the likes of Joe Royle, John King and George Burley during his playing days and says he intends to put that experience to good use.

But the new U’s boss insists that he will also be doing things his own way, as he looks to steer Colchester back to League One.

“You always try and take a little bit out of the managers that you’ve worked with but I’d like to be my own man,” added McGreal, who has chosen former U’s forward Steve Ball as his assistant.

“I want to be who I am and I was as a player and generally, you find your own comfort and that’s what I’ll try and do myself.

“I’ve got a lot of friends throughout the league who I’ve been in contact with over the last couple of days and I’ll definitely seek their advice throughout the season.

“It’s my first taste and having been here for six or seven years, I feel like I’ve served my apprenticeship.

“I’ve got a lot of the badges and a lot of experience with the youth-team and two years with the under-21s.

“I think that has really helped in terms of me making this step to the top level.

“The more I’ve coached and the more games I’ve seen (since retiring as a player), you still get that feel for it and I feel now is the right time for me to step in and have a real go at it.

“Let’s have a good go next season – that’s the main thing.”