Colchester appoint ex-Bristol Rovers, Swindon, Charlton head coach

Colchester United appoint ex-Bristol Rovers, Swindon, Charlton head coach Ben Garner as their new first team boss ahead of the weekend.

This 42-year old succeeds Matt Bloomfield who departed the U’s last Wednesday to become the head of League One side Wycombe Wanderers.

Garner will be in charge of Colchester following Saturday’s match against Bradford City.

He had been head coach of Swindon Town boss last season, but he left in June to join Charlton, only for that spell to end in December, 29 games into his reign, winning just five in 20 matches.

“It has been a privilege to be the manager of Charlton Athletic and I am disappointed to be departing so early into my tenure,” he said in a statement to the League Managers Association on being axed.

“My coaching staff deserve particular mention for their commitment and diligence over the course of this season – hard work, dedication and passion for the job were a constant throughout our time together.

“It was a difficult decision to leave Swindon Town at the end of last season but the opportunity to manage Charlton Athletic was one I could not refuse. The challenge excited me and I was confident of being able to bring success back to a great football club whose supporters deserve nothing less.

“I am disappointed not to have had the necessary time to take the team forward as I know that we would have built a side that we all could be proud of.

“I wish the club, the players, the staff and the fans every success for the future.”

👔 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐍 𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑!

Ben will observe this weekend’s game at Bradford, before taking training for the first time early next week. #ColU | #WeAreUnited

— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) March 2, 2023

COLCHESTER STATEMENT

Ben Garner is the new Colchester United Head Coach

The forty two year old takes over from Matt Bloomfield, having most recently been in charge at Charlton Athletic.

He will observe Saturday’s game against Bradford City, which will be overseen by Ross Embleton, before taking training for the first time early next week.

It is expected that additional staff will have joined Ben at the U’s by then, but they will be announced in due course.

Garner went into coaching early, spending time in the Academy set-up at Crystal Palace.

After making his way up the age groups, he eventually coached the first team under the likes of Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew.

Spells at West Bromwich Albion and ATK, (Indian Super League), followed, before his first Head Coach role came at Bristol Rovers.

Swindon Town was his next destination, taking the Robins to the Play-Off Semi-Final last summer.

His success at the County Ground didn’t go unnoticed in South London, with Garner moving to the Valley to take charge of Charlton ahead of the start of this season.

The first exclusive interview with Ben will be on ColU TV and Twitter at 10.30am.

This is what fans had to say as Colchester appoint ex-Bristol Rovers, Swindon, Charlton head coach Ben Garner…

@SpencerH2003: Like this! Welcome Ben. Hopefully end the season on a high and push on next season!

@malachi21328432: Welcome Ben garner blue white army 💙🤍

@SamWrycraft: Solid appointment, hopefully he’ll be an upgrade on Bloomfield.

@DeanMcMackin: Good luck to him. Feel this is his last chance saloon in pro football to be honest. 3 clubs in 12 months

@adamwalkercufc: Ben garners blue white army

@MattCUFC_: Welcome. Start us off with three points please #colu

@Callum07251778: I’m not a fan of him but he can get teams playing good football at times

@HarrisonTuckwe1: The new era 🔵⚪

@brayash24: Class appointment 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@cafctom_: Enjoy 80% possession with no shots and passing round the back will be fun

@Jamie_Hudson_: Not my first choice, but he’s external and has managerial experience at this level so gonna back him. Welcome Ben

@11joshlee: all the losers in the comments. give the guy a bit of time to build something and you’ll be in a good place. gets the team playing the right way. good manager providing he’s backed and given time to get players in that fit his style of football.

@cafc_daniel: Enjoy possession and passing around the back

@0fficalSTFC: Enjoy the 80% possession with 1 shot on target and the downright refusal to change to plan B.

@CalumWelfare: Massive Colchester fan here, we have got this one so wrong. I think as fans we have to accept the reality that in a couple of years we will be relegated. We need to implement something that will make us more sustainable like Southend, and this is certainly not it.

@FreddySharkk: Worst appointment possible, he’s shocking

@Maccn5: Good luck guys. Expect to be bored to death. Passing around the back endlessly to no benefit and shot shy in attack. Added to this is his arrogance and refusal to ever accept any blame. Fair to say I’m not a fan.

@cafcjackk: happy for him, got sold a dream and stabbed in the back at the first opportunity by our incompetent board. give him time to build something and i can see him doing well for you, good luck ben 🤝

@JTedders92: Comments from Charlton fans the same bitter ones we had from Swindon fans 🙄😅

@bmh1005: Delighted with this – was impressive for Swindon and I think given time and a bit of backing will get us well away from the depths of the last 3 seasons. #colu

@ChefJoeBren: Decent appointment. Get behind him.

@callumelvy17: Welcome!! Big start on Saturday let’s go 3 points please !

Thought Ben Garner did a great job at @Official_STFC last season having started preseason with a handful of players, got them to play offs with an exciting brand of possession based attacking football, excellent appointment as new boss at @ColU_Official #colu @BBCEssexSport pic.twitter.com/4K8AZEHyUG

— Neil Kelly (@NeilKellyn) March 2, 2023