COLCHESTER United will be hoping for a better next season, after escaping relegation with a last day win at Carlisle last weekend.

But it will not be easy for manager Joe Dunne, who took over the reins from previous boss John Ward last September.

Dunne confirmed today: “My budget has been cut for next season.”

The Irishman will therefore have to shuffle his cards even more during the 2013-14 season, although the likelihood is that most of the U’s rival League One clubs will also be cutting their cloth accordingly.

U’s chairman and owner, Robbie Cowling, is working towards a future ambition of having half the U’s squad filled with home-grown talent, as the Essex club makes the most of its excellent new training facilities at Florence Park, Tiptree, coupled with a good network of coaches.

Cowling said: “I’d be delighted if we had more home-grown talent on the pitch, after so many young boys made their debuts this year.

“We always knew that this year would be transitional. I said that at the beginning, and I thought it would be tough, I never tried to say anything else.

“I think next season we have a chance to do something, and do a little bit better.

“We’ve got young players from the youth team who we want to bring through,” added Cowling.