 Rose started the first five games of the season for the club, but was then dropped for Callum Kennedy and then Alan Sheehan, coming on for the latter and scoring an equaliser in a game against Plymouth Argyle, eventually losing the game 3–2.In May 2011, Rose joined Colchester United on a two-year deal after Swindon were relegated and had his contact terminated.He started Colchester's opening five games following his switch, but he was dropped by manager John Ward following some poor performances and had to wait nearly four months for his next start, making Colchester's starting line-up only seven further times in the 2011–12 season.