Joe Dunne has praised Colchester`s impressive backbone-showing Pat Baldwin, Kem Izzet and Scott Vernon as the new “spine” of the side.
He also said he would give each one of them the captain`s armband if possible now that ex-leader Dean Hammond has moved on, despite being able to choose Pat Baldwin as stand-in skipper.
“Our spine of the team is Pat Baldwin, Kem Izzet and Scott Vernon. They were all involved in our promotion season,” the caretaker said in the East Anglian Daily Times, harking back to the glory of 2005-6 under Phil Parkinson.
He recognised too that all three “galvanise” the fans during matches, especially on current form.
“I had no hesitation in making Pat the captain. He’s got great leadership qualities. But if I had three or four arm-bands, I’d be happy to give them out.”
Baldwin himself, the current squad`s second longest-serving player, showed satisfaction at being selected for an accolade he has seen go to Karl Duguid, Chris Coyne and Hammond since his arrival in 2002.
He told the same newspaper, in a separate article: “I was proud to be asked to be the skipper; however, I know that it’s only temporary, until a new manager comes in. I’m always happy to be skipper.”
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Well – Pat, one word, LEGEND. And Izzet seems to have stepped into Hammond’s shoes, while am really happy for the Vernonator to have forced his way back in.