Non league manager takes interim charge at Colchester United

A certain non league manager takes interim charge at Colchester United less than 24 hours after the departure of Steve Ball.

The head coach has left the club after a run of 13 league games without a win after suffering a 2-1 defeat by the Grecians, which left them 21st in the League Two table, nine points above the relegation zone.

Ball previously played for the Essex side and took charge in July after previously being assistant to his predecessor John McGreal.

Now, the U’s have placed Wayne Brown of Maldon & Tiptree in charge until the end of the season and it’s gone down well with fans.

With gambling sites not on gamstop uk, Wayne Brown currently has odds of 1/4  on getting the job permanently.

Club Update: Wayne Brown to take temporary charge of Colchester United. 👇 #ColU

— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) February 24, 2021

ROBBIE COWLING’S STATEMENT:

Colchester United have appointed Wayne Brown as Interim First Team Coach, with Robbie Cowling issuing the following:

It was with massive regret that I made the decision to remove Steve Ball from his role as first team Head Coach. Steve has worked tirelessly for the club for the last ten years and he absolutely loves Colchester United.

Steve is a very good and a very well respected coach and it is a shame that his opportunity to manage the first team has coincided with what has been the most difficult of years for the club.

If I could have afforded Steve more time to turn things around, I would have done but football is a merciless business and I decided that the only way to steer us out of the current rut was to change the first team Head Coach.

I have asked Wayne Brown to take over the role of First Team Coach for the next run of games that see us playing every Saturday and Tuesday for the next few weeks. It’s a difficult run of games and I want to give Wayne every opportunity to succeed in those games. Therefore I am not looking for any other applicants at this time.

STATEMENT ON STEVE BALL’S DEPARTURE:

Colchester United can confirm that Steve Ball has left his role as U’s Head Coach.

Owner and Chairman Robbie Cowling said: “Following the game tonight and a discussion I had with Steve, it was decided that the best way forward was for him to leave his position as Head Coach.”

“Steve has been with the club in different capacities for a long time and I would like it placed on record our thanks to him for his hard work and dedication.”

Wayne Brown was initially the bookmakers’ favourite to take over as head coach from John McGreal when he departed last summer, prior to Ball being appointed.

The promotion winner led the Isthmian League North Division side Maldon and Tiptree to the brink of the title before the 2019-20 season was curtailed, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Jammers also made a superb start to the current campaign, prior to it being suspended.

Brown, who made 160 appearances for Colchester and won promotion with with them as a player in the 2005-06 season, has already had experience of being in caretaker charge of the U’s, could he go on to get it permanently?

BROWN’S PLAYING CAREER:

Youth career
1993–1997 – Ipswich Town

Senior career
1997–2002 – Ipswich Town – 40 games (0 goals)
1997 → Colchester United (loan) – 2 games (0 goals)
2001 → Queens Park Rangers (loan) – 2 games (0 goals)
2001 → Wimbledon (loan) – 17 games (1 goal)
2002 → Watford (loan) – 11 games (3 goals)
2002–2004 – Watford – 25 games (1 goal)
2003 → Gillingham (loan) – 4 games (1 goal)
2004 → Colchester United (loan) – 16 games (0 goals)
2004–2007 – Colchester United – 124 games (4 goals)
2007–2009 – Hull City – 42 games (1 goal)
2008 → Preston North End (loan) – 6 games (0 goals)
2009 → Leicester City (loan) – 9 games (0 goals)
2009–2010 – Leicester City – 39 games (0 goals)
2010–2011 – Preston North End – 13 games (0 goals)
2011 – Bury Town
Total – 350 games (11 goals)

Fans reacted as the non league manager takes interim charge at Colchester United…

@PooleyPitchside: Sensible choice worked wonders at @MaldonTiptreeFC let’s get behind the team Up The U

@ColUtdAlex: The fact it’s temporary gives Wayne some time to impress and also gives us enough time to find a strong manager next season. His win % is incredibly high. Ik it’s with Maldon but still, winning mentality

@MattCUFC_: Decent, has managed some of our players at Maldon and hopefully can get the best out of them

@JSR__93: I’ll take that

@hazsquires1: Wow ok I like that

@slowe66: Good move for now at least . Good luck Wayne

@SpencerHume03: Can’t moan at that, done really well at Maldon and deserves a chance. Hopefully he can sort us out.

@ColinPep1: Let’s hope he gets it full-time. Very progressive manager, ideal for a club the size of Colchester with a smallish budget and a need to ensure promising young players are developed from the academy and signed from clubs lower down the pyramid and given the chance to grow.

@OliverMorley8: Happy with that give him till end of the season may as well give him some experience

@robbierossini: Great guy, fully behind him.

@adamwalkercufc: I’ll take that

@_bradmorris_: not bad i’ll take that

@Jamie_Tearle1: Not bad and it’s only temporary so could be worse

@sonnydyer94: Should’ve stuck with mcgreal

@glenister_andy: Seems a sensible choice, quite well regarded, knows the club, and more importantly, what the club used to stand for and how things were when we were at our best. Gives him time to shine with not much pressure. Also gives Robbie time to sort the bigger picture out for next season

@HOLLY3RD: What a surprise that announcement was! No time to waste we need someone with league experience now! With Cowlings we won’t go bust but his footballing appointments will eventually send us down. Heart in the right place but tired of this man and his vision for the club.

@coludan: Should have and deserved to be given the job instead of ball in the first place but another man with zero football league experience as a manager, just what you need in a dog fight. This is how much keeping our football league status means to cowling. Scrap the academy.