Danny Cowley provides update on Kane Vincent-Young after contract talks

COLCHESTER United are ‘really hopeful’ that experienced defender Kane Vincent-Young will sign a new contract and remain at the club, this season. The 30-year-old right-back, who is currently out of contract, is close to agreeing a new deal to remain at the U’s after positive discussions. Vincent-Young, who made more than 50 appearances for Colchester last season after returning to the club for a second spell, featured in the U’s opening pre-season game of the summer, a 0-0 draw at Norwich City’s training ground in a behind-closed-doors match. Colchester have already secured Ellis Iandolo and Rob Hunt on new contracts this summer, in addition to signing left-back Jake Leake from League Two rivals, Oldham Athletic. Colchester boss Danny Cowley told cu-fc.com : “We’re really keen and we’re really hopeful that we can get Kane over the line as well. “Then all of a sudden, you look at Jake and Ellis and Kane and Hunty and in the full-back areas, we’re in a really good place. “Then we just have to resolve the other positions but that’s not so straightforward and work in progress.” Match Gallery 📸 First test done ✅ A solid start to our pre-season schedule. #ColU | #WeAreUnited 1/3 pic.twitter.com/kAiV9GajpK— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) July 12, 2026 Cowley says Colchester’s game at Norwich was a ‘brilliant test’ for his players. The U’s fielded different teams in each half with new signings Sean Raggett, Paul Digby, Bradley Ihionvien and Jake Leake all featuring for the visitors. “It was a brilliant test,” said U’s boss Cowley. “To come here against a Championship club – incredible facilities, unbelievable pitch, playing against top Championship players. “We bring 22 players and I thought the first group did great, really, really well. “I thought for 30 minutes, there’s nothing in the game and then probably from then on, they get a foothold and we have to suffer a bit and we have to defend but I thought we did that well. “Even though there was quite a lot of new faces in that first group, we still looked like we had familiarity which was a real positive, both with the ball and against it. “So a lot to like with the first group and then second half, we had the average age of about 11 and of course, you’re playing against really good players. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/OycTrkLJ1t — Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) July 12, 2026 “We don’t have so much of the ball but we have a penalty that unfortunately, we don’t score and then probably in the dying moments, we have the best chance of the game which we just can’t quite take. “But I liked the resilience that the boys showed and for the young boys when you’re playing against top players, they give you instant feedback and you learn so much. “A lot of them were out on their feet by the time the final whistle went and probably haven’t played in a game with that intensity before and can make the game easier for themselves, in some moments. “But lots of learning to take for them and to keep a clean sheet here, against a Championship team is a real positive. “So a good day all round, a step in the right direction.”