Colchester United assistant manager Steve Ball eager to get back to work

The U's have not played since beating Carlisle United 3-0 on March 7 and are currently awaiting news on whether or not the League Two season will restart, following the coronavirus outbreak.

Colchester's players, management and staff have not been able to report for duty at their Florence Park training ground since mid-March, following the government's restrictions.

And U's number two Ball says during their time away from Tiptree, he has been in regular contact with McGreal, along with the likes of director of football Tony Humes, director of performance Jon De Souza and club director, Tony Ashby.

Ball told the U's website: "It's been tough over the past couple of months but we have to be patient whilst people all over the world are losing loved ones to the virus.

"John and I are on the phone to each other three or four times a day - one of us would have heard something about something and rang the other to talk it over, or to see if it would work for us.

"Training ideas, rumours about a return date, updates from other staff, it could be anything.

"We have regular Zoom meetings with the rest of the coaching staff, as well as speaking to Tony Humes, Tony Ashby and Jon De Souza.

"There has been a few stories and rumours about restart dates, and we'll be ready to go as soon as we get the go-ahead.

"We want to finish the season and make sure we're at least in the play-off positions so we have a chance of being in League One next season, whenever that may start."

Colchester are hoping that they will get the green light to resume their campaign in June, as the EFL have proposed.

The U's are currently sixth in the table with nine games remaining, as they hunt down a play-off spot.

Ball added: "I'm missing going in each day and being on the training pitches, and of course the intensity of a matchday with the three points at stake and I'm looking forward to getting back into that routine."