Colchester United's club secretary has been made chief executive - only the fourth woman nationwide to hold such a post.

Marie Partner said one of the main priorities of her new job was to rally support for the club in the town and raise its profile as plans for a new stadium draw closer.

The appointment makes her the fourth woman in the country, and the first in East Anglia, to hold such a senior post at a football club.

She has worked at the Layer Road club for 11 years, starting off in the ticket office, followed by promotion to commercial manager in 1990, and to club secretary in 1996.

Mrs Partner said: "It's a real honour to have been offered the post and I view it as a personal challenge to lead the club into 2001, dealing with major issues like a new stadium as well as supporting manager Steve Whitton's efforts with the team on the pitch.

"We really need our supporters and the whole of Colchester right behind us if we are going to make Colchester United not just a footballing success story but a business success story for the town."

Mrs Partner, who has two grown-up sons, said it was time to improve relations with fans and be more open with them, a supporters' liaison officer has already been appointed.

She wants to raise the profile of the club, getting people behind it and supporting plans for a community stadium and not just a football stadium at the Cuckoo Farm site.

Club chairman Peter Heard said: "Marie has been incredibly loyal to Colchester United over the years and understands every aspect of the way the club is run."

Mrs Partner, 42, has lived in the town almost all her life, and attended Sir Charles Lucas School on Greenstead. The club has not had a chief executive for five years.

Stephen Gage, who quit as managing director in 1999, essentially held this position, and Mrs Partner has been acting in this role since his then.

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