Promotion is the word for Williams

7:21am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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Promotion is the buzz word for Geraint Williams as he attempts to mastermind his side's Coca-Cola League One bid for next season.

The dust may have only just settled on the previous campaign, but the U's boss has already begun reshaping his squad for next term.

Nine players from this season's squad have already left the club, following the U's relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship.

And over the summer weeks, Williams will attempt to assemble a squad capable of bouncing straight back to the second tier, while not sacrificing his attacking philosophies.

Williams said: "From now on, the word is promotion.

"We're looking to be positive.

"Swansea are a very good football side and so are Nottingham Forest and both have gone up to the Championship. That gives me hope for League One next season."

Williams has been left devastated by Colchester's relegation.

However, he stressed the need for U's fans to be realistic, after their two-year stint in the Championship came to an end.

He said: "We've entertained and we've picked up 107 points over two years in the Championship - the first 107 points in the Championship.

"We're disappointed because we've finished bottom of the Championship.

"But we have to put it into perspective. This is still the second highest finish this club has ever achieved and the last three years have been the highest ever. What we have to do now is make sure that we keep that going next year.

"We are hurt and disappointed but let's keep things in perspective.

"We want to be successful and stay in the Championship but let's be realistic as well as ambitious."

Colchester finished bottom of the Championship with 38 points, with only seven victories to their name.

However, 16 of their 22 defeats were only by a single goal and Williams believes his side were a competitive force in the division, despite their relegation.

He added: "Make no mistake, we have competed in the Championship again this year.

"We haven't been successful but we have competed, apart from four results in 46 games.

"I think the vast majority of our supporters, while being as disappointed as we are at the football club, understand the massive challenges we've faced every day and every week in the Championship."