It seems increasingly likely that a combination of John Ward and Joe Dunne will become Colchester United`s next dynamic duo, unless Robbie Cowling has something dramatic up his sleeve this afternoon.
On a red-letter day that will have members of the local media becoming a lost bank holiday, the U`s are set to unveil Aidy Boothroyd`s replacement just after one o`clock, just ten days after he exited to become Coventry manager.
The swiftness and lack of ballyhoo behind the third appointment of Cowling`s tenure as Chairman, since news of a decision came far faster than the initial three weeks as he originally outlined, certainly suggests pluming for John Ward, with Joe Dunne as his number two.
It theoretically has several advantages, because these coaches can benefit from some sense of familiarity with a settled squad and also both would be able to recommence transfer dealings with immediate effect having had an intimate knowledge of what budgets are available for squad expansion or rearrangement.
An internal hiring also looks possible because very few names have done the rounds as genuine contenders this time, unlike nine months ago when a sprawling search after Paul Lambert`s departure to Norwich put so many names in the frame.
To date, Luton coach Kevin Watson and another man with former U`s connections, Steve Foley, are the highest profile men to declare an interest. On the other hand the fiercely loyal Paul Buckle has declined any possible overtures by reinstating loyalty to Torquay united. Geraint Williams, also an ex-Colchester man and recently sacked by Leyton Orient, said he felt it unlikely he would ever return in any capacity with the Essex club.
Thus the official line of inquiry after the razzmatazz of both the Lambert and Boothroyd days appears to lean towards playing the concrete loyalty card, instead, because each figure mentioned above as plausible candidates has solid Colchester United connections.
There is still an outside chance, however, that the new man has been plucked from the unknown, alas Lambert or before him an eventually popular Phil Parkinson.
Over to you, Robbie.
Joe Dunne title photo reproduced with kind permission of CU-FC – taken by Rob Sambrook.
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