Colchester United have taken to confirm the permanent appointment of Matthew Etherington, who will be the club’s new Head Coach.
He has led the team to 10 points from a possible 12 during his spell in interim charge, with the club sitting 16th in League Two.
In June 2023, Etherington was named as Under-21 lead coach at fourth tier club Colchester United. Following the departure of Ben Garner in October 2023, he was appointed caretaker manager.
Having already been on the touchline for a match in interim control, he was told to step down from his position following a contract dispute between Colchester and Etherington’s former club Crawley, with the latter claiming he was still under contract until May 2024 and that if he oversaw their fixture against Accrington, a buy-out fee would be owed. He was reinstated as interim head coach on the 31st of October.
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Matty’s role has been made permanent after a run of picking up ten points from a possible twelve.#ColU | #WeAreUnited
β Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) November 16, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
Colchester United have appointed Matty Etherington as the club’s new Head Coach.
The former Spurs, West Ham and Stoke winger takes permanent charge of the U’s, after a three week spell as an interim boss.
In that spell, the U’s have picked up ten points from four league fixtures, and were narrowly beaten 3-2 in the FA Cup at League One side Shrewsbury Town.
Etherington, who made almost 500 appearances in his playing career, has been with the U’s as U21s Lead Coach since the summer and steps up to take charge of the first team following Ben Garner’s departure.
He is looking forward to it, saying: “I’m extremely pleased, and obviously grateful to the Chairman and Dmitri for giving me this opportunity, and I’ll give everything I can to make sure this club is successful.”
“It’s been a decent start in terms of the league form, but we need to make sure we maintain that going forwards.
“I’m a big believer in ‘what will be will be’ and here we are. I’m really looking forward to it and I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
U’s Sporting Director Dmitri Halajko added: “Matty has had a good response from the players and his league points’ return has been excellent as interim head coach.”
“He’s a Pro Licence coach who has had experiences of first team coaching at other clubs, along with a playing career at the highest level.
“These experiences will put Matty in a great position to be a successful at Colchester United.
“He will now have the opportunity on a full-time basis and will have the full support at everybody at the club as we look to continue climbing up the league table.”
This is what fans said as Colchester confirm the permanent appointment of club’s new Head Coach Matty Etherington…
@colufangeorge: This club NEVER learns from its mistakes #colu
@BinksOwen: I just hope the poor bloke doesnβt read these replies! π₯Ί Good luck Matty!! Top 7 here we come! π
@Adam12370765: He’ll be sacked very soon
@JB16___: My sinking ship club π
@Jamie_Hudson_: Letβs be honest, as long as he didnβt lose every game Cowling was always going to appoint him. Another cheap appointment. The football has been no better. He just never learns #ColU
@stmlowe: Not ideal but there we go
@j17_jj: Give him a chance lads. Lee bells doing a cracking job at Crewe. They were sick of the same type of appointments. Looking forward to you coming to Donny back end of this month!
@Ashleypotter_97: Can’t wait for him to be sacked in March
@Tonycllm77: Congratulations Matt, hopefully keep the pointβs coming in but hopefully the performance start to improve. All the best and looking forward to our trip to the league leaders Stockport the weekend tough first game a permanent coach, hopefully you prove the doubters wrong π
@jonCUFCwhiting: All the best Matty!
@Clachan1GK: Unbelievable seriously π
@benhallidayCUFC: I’m really not convinced this a wise move. But I’m here to be proven wrong and wish him all the luck in the world
@RyanMann15: Couldnβt buy a win as the under 21 manger so letβs give him the first team job same shit with the clown cowling #colu
@gazbishbosh: All the best Matty βοΈπ
@EagleEyedColU: Unsurprising given a return of 10 points from a possible 12 in interim charge. However we’ve been here before. The performances have been unconvincing and is not the most popular appointment – now is the time to prove us wrong. Best of luck to Matty. Big test this weekend #ColU
@Jake_Furby_: How predictable
@euancolu: Same shit different season. Insanity. #ColU
@glenister_andy: At no point was anyone else even interviewed! Did he pick up points, yes. Were performances that much better, not overly. Another statement we have 0 ambition to do anything! #colu
@colufangeorge: Cheap and easy option. The performances haven’t matched the results in his interim spell
@Jamie_Hudson_: I doubt he even interviewed another manager. He was always going to be appointed no matter what he did. Another cheap internal option, football has been no better. What Cowling has done to this club really hurts.
@nickandrews11: Points yes. Performances no. Mid table mediocrity the very best we can hope for, I think. Which, given the squad we have, is nowhere near good enough. P.s hope Iβm proved very wrong.
β Adam (@Ajl_3692) November 16, 2023
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