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So long Joe

Tony Humes is the new manager of Colchester United following the parting of Joe Dunne and the club on Monday.

Humes, former Academy Head at Ipswich Town, steps up from the Head of Youth role he has held at Colchester since 2009.

Richard Hall, of the club’s U21 management team, has stepped up as Tony Humes assistant, replacing Mark Kinsella, who has also left the club.

Dunne had spent 18 years at the club as player and manager, playing 160 games, managing 99. 189 games were played by academy graduates under his management.

My immediate thoughts were to crucify Chairman Robbie Cowling. How dare he throw out a Colchester United legend who has been hamstrung by the budget cuts that Cowling has enforced? One viewing of the Chairman’s interview with the official website changed my mind.

Here was painted the image of a manager who had simply gone as far as he could and was doing what he thought was best for his team – to walk away and let another person give it a shot in the arm. It is sad that Dunne did not think he could turn the team around, reports suggest they are on the cusp of getting some much needed wins and even Humes doesn’t seem to think that radical change is needed. Colchester United have a promising young team and, while financial fair-play means that they may struggle to stay in League One, a bright future could be on the horizon. It is just a shame that Joe Dunne will not be there to see it.

What of the decision to appoint from within rather than chasing someone like Alan Devonshire at Braintree (as press rumours were suggesting)? Well, I think it is refreshing that the Chairman wants to carry on a philosophy rather than ripping up and starting again – it’s a lesson that Manchester United could well pay heed to. I think that it will benefit the club long term to develop the academy and source players from there. Is this the benefits of financial fair-play in action? On the other hand, how easy is it to attract a manager to Colchester bearing in mind the budget and constant struggle for survival. Maybe the internal appointment is less about philosophy, more necessity.

Despite all that, let’s give the new man a chance. Goodbye Joe Dunne and good luck. Welcome to the big time Tony Humes.

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So long Joe

Tony Humes is the new manager of Colchester United following the parting of Joe Dunne and the club on Monday.

Humes, former Academy Head at Ipswich Town, steps up from the Head of Youth role he has held at Colchester since 2009.

Richard Hall, of the club’s U21 management team, has stepped up as Tony Humes assistant, replacing Mark Kinsella, who has also left the club.

Dunne had spent 18 years at the club as player and manager, playing 160 games, managing 99. 189 games were played by academy graduates under his management.

My immediate thoughts were to crucify Chairman Robbie Cowling. How dare he throw out a Colchester United legend who has been hamstrung by the budget cuts that Cowling has enforced? One viewing of the Chairman’s interview with the official website changed my mind.

Here was painted the image of a manager who had simply gone as far as he could and was doing what he thought was best for his team – to walk away and let another person give it a shot in the arm. It is sad that Dunne did not think he could turn the team around, reports suggest they are on the cusp of getting some much needed wins and even Humes doesn’t seem to think that radical change is needed. Colchester United have a promising young team and, while financial fair-play means that they may struggle to stay in League One, a bright future could be on the horizon. It is just a shame that Joe Dunne will not be there to see it.

What of the decision to appoint from within rather than chasing someone like Alan Devonshire at Braintree (as press rumours were suggesting)? Well, I think it is refreshing that the Chairman wants to carry on a philosophy rather than ripping up and starting again – it’s a lesson that Manchester United could well pay heed to. I think that it will benefit the club long term to develop the academy and source players from there. Is this the benefits of financial fair-play in action? On the other hand, how easy is it to attract a manager to Colchester bearing in mind the budget and constant struggle for survival. Maybe the internal appointment is less about philosophy, more necessity.

Despite all that, let’s give the new man a chance. Goodbye Joe Dunne and good luck. Welcome to the big time Tony Humes.

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So long Joe

Tony Humes is the new manager of Colchester United following the parting of Joe Dunne and the club on Monday.

Humes, former Academy Head at Ipswich Town, steps up from the Head of Youth role he has held at Colchester since 2009.

Richard Hall, of the club’s U21 management team, has stepped up as Tony Humes assistant, replacing Mark Kinsella, who has also left the club.

Dunne had spent 18 years at the club as player and manager, playing 160 games, managing 99. 189 games were played by academy graduates under his management.

My immediate thoughts were to crucify Chairman Robbie Cowling. How dare he throw out a Colchester United legend who has been hamstrung by the budget cuts that Cowling has enforced? One viewing of the Chairman’s interview with the official website changed my mind.

Here was painted the image of a manager who had simply gone as far as he could and was doing what he thought was best for his team – to walk away and let another person give it a shot in the arm. It is sad that Dunne did not think he could turn the team around, reports suggest they are on the cusp of getting some much needed wins and even Humes doesn’t seem to think that radical change is needed. Colchester United have a promising young team and, while financial fair-play means that they may struggle to stay in League One, a bright future could be on the horizon. It is just a shame that Joe Dunne will not be there to see it.

What of the decision to appoint from within rather than chasing someone like Alan Devonshire at Braintree (as press rumours were suggesting)? Well, I think it is refreshing that the Chairman wants to carry on a philosophy rather than ripping up and starting again – it’s a lesson that Manchester United could well pay heed to. I think that it will benefit the club long term to develop the academy and source players from there. Is this the benefits of financial fair-play in action? On the other hand, how easy is it to attract a manager to Colchester bearing in mind the budget and constant struggle for survival. Maybe the internal appointment is less about philosophy, more necessity.

Despite all that, let’s give the new man a chance. Goodbye Joe Dunne and good luck. Welcome to the big time Tony Humes.

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So long Joe

Tony Humes is the new manager of Colchester United following the parting of Joe Dunne and the club on Monday.

Humes, former Academy Head at Ipswich Town, steps up from the Head of Youth role he has held at Colchester since 2009.

Richard Hall, of the club’s U21 management team, has stepped up as Tony Humes assistant, replacing Mark Kinsella, who has also left the club.

Dunne had spent 18 years at the club as player and manager, playing 160 games, managing 99. 189 games were played by academy graduates under his management.

My immediate thoughts were to crucify Chairman Robbie Cowling. How dare he throw out a Colchester United legend who has been hamstrung by the budget cuts that Cowling has enforced? One viewing of the Chairman’s interview with the official website changed my mind.

Here was painted the image of a manager who had simply gone as far as he could and was doing what he thought was best for his team – to walk away and let another person give it a shot in the arm. It is sad that Dunne did not think he could turn the team around, reports suggest they are on the cusp of getting some much needed wins and even Humes doesn’t seem to think that radical change is needed. Colchester United have a promising young team and, while financial fair-play means that they may struggle to stay in League One, a bright future could be on the horizon. It is just a shame that Joe Dunne will not be there to see it.

What of the decision to appoint from within rather than chasing someone like Alan Devonshire at Braintree (as press rumours were suggesting)? Well, I think it is refreshing that the Chairman wants to carry on a philosophy rather than ripping up and starting again – it’s a lesson that Manchester United could well pay heed to. I think that it will benefit the club long term to develop the academy and source players from there. Is this the benefits of financial fair-play in action? On the other hand, how easy is it to attract a manager to Colchester bearing in mind the budget and constant struggle for survival. Maybe the internal appointment is less about philosophy, more necessity.

Despite all that, let’s give the new man a chance. Goodbye Joe Dunne and good luck. Welcome to the big time Tony Humes.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
One a month, no spam, honest

Now on air
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