Colchester boss Geraint Williams already knows which players he will try to keep and which will be shown the door ahead of next season.
The Us' disappointing campaign comes to an end at Scunthorpe on Sunday, after which Williams will begin reshaping his squad for life in League One.
"We know the important thing for us is to keep our best players," Williams told the Colchester Gazette.
"We know which players will be offered contracts and which won't - Sunday's match won't change that. It's important that those players who are leaving are told first, as it's only right and fair."