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The U's, on course for a fourth successive top-half finish in npower League One, must adapt to Football League changes next season which will only allow third-tier clubs to spend 65% of their turnover on total players' wages, with just 60% allowed in 2013/14.
The current loan system allowing emergency deals to be completed outside of the summer and winter windows is also set to be restructured in two years' time. That means clubs must adapt quickly to the new way of life, and Ward wants Colchester to be on song.
He told the Green'Un: "Colchester United's next five or 10 years, depends on the next one or two.
"Robbie (Cowling, chairman) has got the vision to see it and do it, with the new training ground. Long-term, this place (the Weston Homes Community Stadium) has to have football every other Saturday to put Colchester on the map. We've got to keep this thing afloat, and keep this club alive,
"Robbie wants to do it, I want to do it and the players are aware of it and want to do it. They are in full knowledge of all this."
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