Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling has tasked former Crystal Palace sporting director Iain Moody with the job of improving the club’s recruitment of players.

Speaking at the club’s annual Open Day at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, the U’s supremo revealed that he has brought Moody in to boost the quality of players coming in over the long term, to match the standard of their academy.

Moody, who has previously worked with Malky Mackay at Cardiff City and Watford and resigned from his position at Palace due to a much-publicised text message scandal in 2014, has vast experience in the field.

He has worked in both the Premier League and Football League in the past and Cowling said his appointment will help the recruitment of players at Colchester improve.

Cowling, speaking at the U’s Open Day, said: “We accepted that one of the areas that we haven’t got right in the past is recruitment.

“I’m not trying to blame anyone at the club for that – it’s just an area that we need to do better in.

“We’ve brought in Iain Moody who knows the recruitment side of things inside out.

“He’s worked at the likes of Cardiff City and Crystal Palace in the past and over the next couple of years, he’ll be working hard with us to try and make it as good in terms of recruitment as it is with our development side of things.

“We’ve seen that we can develop our own players but we also need to give John (McGreal) a really good recruitment department, too.

“John’s had to work a bit off the cuff but I think he’s done a remarkable job, if you look at the players that we’ve attracted this summer.

“I think we can really look forward to seeing the recruitment side of things improve.”

More than 2,500 people flocked to the U’s Open Day, where they watched the club’s players take part in a training session on the Community Stadium.

Colchester’s players also signed autographs for supporters, while Cowling and new head coach John McGreal took part in a question and answer session.

Colchester’s season-ticket sales are already set to be up on last year’s total despite the club’s relegation to League Two, prompting Cowling to thank the club’s supporters.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to all of you,” added Cowling.

“I think by tonight we will have sold more season tickets than we did this time last year and that’s credit to the fans, even after our relegation last season.

“We really appreciate that because as you know, it’s about sticking with your team through thick and thin.”