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Colchester name ex-Peterborough, Tottenham, Bradford, West Ham, Stoke player as interim boss

Colchester United name ex-Peterborough, Tottenham, Bradford, West Ham, Stoke player Matthew Etherington as their interim boss.

Etherington steps up from his role having been under-21 lead coach at the U’s, who currently sit in the League Two relegation zone.

He previously managed Crawley, but only lasted 32 days having been appointed in November 2022.

Matty,  now replaces Ben Garner “while the club considers its long-term options”, but fans wouldn’t be surprised if Colchester end up appointing him.

He will be assisted by Scott Marshall and Dave Huzzey, who both worked under Garner.

Garner was axed with Colchester second bottom after four successive defeats.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Colchester United have placed Matty Etherington in interim charge of the First Team, following Ben Garner’s departure.

U21s Lead Coach Matty Etherington will be in in the dugout, alongside Scott Marshall and Dave Huzzey, when the U’s take on Grimsby Town on Tuesday evening, with the backroom staff at the club remaining unchanged

Matty will remain in charge of the First Team affairs while the club considers its long-term options.

Etherington’s promotion to Interim Head Coach means that Liam Bailey will be taking charge of the U21s side for the immediate future, including Tuesday’s Professional Development league game against Charlton Athletic.

Interviewer: It was a difficult afternoon for the for the team on Saturday when they lost 2-1 to Harrogate, have you had a chance to watch that game back and and learn from it?

Matty: Yeah watch it back obviously and um you know there’s what’s happened at the weekend’s happened, so it’s about really galvanizing the players now thats the position we’re in in the league at the moment doesn’t really reflect probably the ability within the side um so really the last couple of days about picking up the players having some individual conversations with them collective conversations and preparing and picking a team for Tuesday

Interviewer: And like you say it’s about picking the lads up now obviously going to Grimsby, a team struggling for consistency a little bit like ourselves how did you prepare for that one?

Matty: Again it’s around positive reinforcement for me, there has to be a reality of of where we’re currently at in the league um and the players need to be aware of that but um like I previously said there’s some good players here for this level um and it’s about them performing consistently on a basis where they’re picking up results and and that’s where we need to get them to um and that’s what we’ll be speaking to them about over the next couple of days

Interviewer: Obviously we’ll be training today before we go there tomorrow what sort of things will you try and get into the lads before Grimsby?

Matty: I think with the quick turn around is is not revolutionary by any stretch I think it’s important that maybe we do a couple of things differently um but in terms of the way we structure and and and we want to play um it will be fairly similar for now um I think the quick turnaround doesn’t enable you to make wholesale changes in terms of what you want to do and and um so that’s what we’ll be looking at today we’ll be doing videos we’ll be going through it on the training pitch and then obviously got plenty of time at the hotel tomorrow as well

Interviewer: And then from a personal point of view obviously it’s never nice to see someone lose their job but it does present an opportunity for yourself?

Matty: Yeah it’s never it’s never nice um you I’ve been involved in football since I was 15 years old when I made my debut and I’ve seen many things and it is never is never nice a decent relationship with Ben and um he was good to me when I was here with had a good working relationship and I wish him all the best in the future and and now it’s about picking these lads up and making sure we compete um first of all on Tuesday night and then again on Saturday

FAVOURITES TO BECOME COLCHESTER MANAGER

BetVictor – 24th October 2023 – 11am
Matthew Etherington – 4/7
Neil Harris – 6/4
Liam Bailey – 8/1
David Artell – 14/1
Aidy Boothroyd – 20/1
Andy Woodman – 20/1
Steve Cotterill – 20/1

Twitter users reacted as Colchester name ex-Peterborough, Tottenham, Bradford, West Ham, Stoke player as their interim boss…

@TwitColUs: Might as well of kept garner until you agreed something with another manager I know it’s sneaky but it would be best for the football club

@mikeclarkyeah: When I used to play Champ Manager around 2000/2001 I used Matt to solve Englands left wing crisis. Let’s hope he can solve another

@ChrisAd71317281: If the under 21 results are anything to go by heaven help us!

@RDColU: It’s like a recurring nightmare. Let’s hope it is interim, and just the one game.

@colufangeorge: This statement screams “we have no idea what we’re doing” – probably meaning Etherington will be in charge for the next 2-4 games and will get it permanently if he does well

@John_CUFC: Better not become permanent

@MattCUFC_: It just shows that Cowling is not willing to show the top 7 budget he says we have as this screams it will be an internal appointment. Number one choice for me should be Woodman, second to that Alexander. I’ve already lost interest this season as it is 😫

@dabdbdab:
“…whilst we conduct interviews for the role”
PLEASE tell us there is “an extensive recruitment process”?
Please?!
#colu

@elliott_elf: Should have given the interim job to Liam Bailey.

@Diagamirs: History repeats. Best of luck to him but why fire an experienced manager without a full season at the club without a plan to replace him and an overall strategy. I doubt the club would have been relegated this season with Garner and who would want the job now based on stability?

@_bradmorris_: whilst I did not oppose Garners sacking what’s the point in dismissing him if there is no clear direction the club wants to go? statement displays a lack of knowledge for what to do so why not keep him until we figure out what to do. Completely backwards step imo

@Colchesterviews: When you consider that the owner of our football club, made his fortune from recruitment, one can’t help but think how utterly terrible he is at it. I see no value in removing Garner, if you didn’t have a replacement in the wings. This statement says, we haven’t got a clue.

@Jamie_Hudson_: Make sure it’s just that, interim, not permanent.

@wayne_everett1: Everyone sounds buzzing with this 😂😂😂

@verdict70_: Don’t make it permanent 😭

@glenister_andy: Doesn’t make an ounce of difference. Formation, team selection and work ethic will all be the same old crap. Probably be ‘his job to lose’ as well #colu

@ctfcwes: Yeah you boys are fucked 😂😂

@KyleighHughes85: 🤯 Let’s replace Garner with someone with a worse record! Bravo U’s Bravo 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #colu

@haz44411: #colu was expected so not going to moan, but the lack of direction is very worrying. seems as if garner sacking was a rash decision more than anything else.

@NathanRef96: Lost 7 won 2 with the U23s perfect fit 😂 I reckon he gets 5/6 games until he’s made permanent ! Robbie can claim it’s outside appointment as only just joined the club too 😴 #Colu

@adamwalkercufc: Can’t see anything changing. The damage is at the top of this club. If this becomes permanent then we’re finished #colu

@Ajl_3692: Worrying statement, essentially states that the board don’t have a clue on what to do. He’ll probably become permanent if he gets the odd result, since any candidate would risk not getting paid only to not run the club. Relegation it is

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