U's legend Joe gets permanent job.
Colchester United are delighted to confirm that U's legend Joe Dunne has been named as first team boss on a permanent basis.Joe, who has enjoyed a sixteen year association with the club, will take charge from Saturday's home game against Hartlepool and chairman Robbie Cowling has issued the following comments.
I am sure you will all join me in wishing Joe all the best in his new job.
It was not an easy decision to part company with John Ward because he had worked so hard to achieve so much for Colchester United Football Club.
However, it was an easy choice when it came to selecting John's successor.
Joe has been with Colchester United for sixteen years as a player, youth team manager, reserve manager, assistant manager, caretaker manager and now he is first team manager.
Joe takes charge of Colchester United when the club's long term prospects are the best they have ever been but at a time when the short term future is one of its most challenging.
In the short term, the club has to adjust to the new salary capping rules that have forced us to drastically reduce our playing budget and no manager can be expected to improve its first team squad with significantly less money to spend on players.
However, the long-term future is much brighter.
The investments we have made in our facilities and in the youth set up will pay dividends in the not to distant future and the land that the club owns in Tiptree could, if planning permission is granted, provide funds to put the club on a stable financial footing and allow it to continue those types of investments into the foreseeable future.
Therefore, I ask each and every one of you to get behind Joe and the team and to give them your full support.
Robbie Cowling