I never drop players - I only make changes.

So said Bill Shankly, when his team selection was once queried by a brave reporter.

Liverpool’s legendary boss might have been talking semantics.

But football managers will always be judged on the decisions they make.

And whether you agree with his choices or not, Colchester United manager Tony Humes has certainly not been afraid to make tough calls.

Humes’ latest move has been to leave one of his most experienced players, Sean Clohessy, out of his squad.

The right-back has paid the price for his petulant response to being substituted in the U’s recent defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

It is not the first time that Clohessy has been out in the cold under Humes, this season.

But on this occasion, Humes had to show that his authority must not be undermined.

“This football club is about building a team and togetherness - certain things are acceptable and certain things aren’t,” said the U’s boss last week.

Other decisions Humes has made haven’t been quite as cut and dry, though.

Sanchez Watt and Ben Gordon, regulars under former U’s boss Joe Dunne, now find themselves completely out of the picture.

And the likes of Craig Eastmond, Marcus Bean and Dominic Vose have all departed for pastures new.

Colchester are almost unrecognisable compared to Dunne's team that started the season against Oldham Athletic.

Of the side that started at Rochdale, six were Humes’ signings.

Regardless of whether or not supporters agree with some of the decisions, he and Richard Hall have certainly been nothing if not bold, over the past six months.

And most recently, a change of formation has provided evidence of some lateral thinking.

Ultimately, that is what football management is all about – making key decisions.

Humes, like any other manager, knows he will be judged on the choices he makes.

His team selection and tactics for the forthcoming home games against Crawley Town and Yeovil Town will no doubt be scrutinised more than usual, given the magnitude of those matches.

But Humes has only ever made decisions for the good of the club.

And as a football manager, it is the choices you make that will ultimately define your success in the end.