Steve Whitton threw his hat into the ring today in a bid to become Colchester United's new manager.

The post was sensationally vacated by the shock resignation of Steve Wignall - arguably the U's most successful team boss ever - yesterday afternoon.

And caretaker boss Whitton takes his U's squad to highflying Stoke City on Saturday looking to pull off a shock result that he hopes will lead to him landing the manager's job permanently.

Whitton told This Is Essex: "I want the job and I've told the club's managing director Stephen Gage that I will be applying for it.

"The last four years - especially the last two since I stopped playing - working with Steve Wignall have been a great apprenticeship towards management.

"I know how things are run and I'm ready for it! Steve Wignall and I saw very much eye to eye in our methods and we know we have the players at the club capable of holding their own in Division Two. The evidence of their success over the past four years is there for all to see.

"Steve has gone now and this is a great time to come in. The players know now what they have to do and if we pull off a couple of shock results at Stoke and Bristol Rovers in the next two weeks who knows what can happen!

"I have prepared the lads this week for the game at Stoke and this is a new beginning for everyone at the club.

"But the next two weeks could be the most crucial two weeks in my coaching and managerial career," said Whitton.

Gage said while confirming Whitton's interest in the job: "All the speculation so far concerning Steve Wignall's replacement is very flattering.

"We have made a couple of calls to possible candidates ourselves and although a lot of high calibre names are already being bandied about, so far all the specualation is way off the mark."

Gage also confirmed that Whitton and Micky Cook, the U's current Director of Youth Football, will be in charge of team affairs - aided by physio Brian Owen and reserve team manager Paul Dyer - until a new manager is named.

Cook, meanwhile, almost ruled himself out of the reckoning for the vacant manager's job. He said: "I will think things over very seriously, but my gut reaction now is not to put in for it.

"I love the job that I'm doing with the kids. I put the current youth policy into operation at Layer Road and my feelings at this time are to see that job through

"But I am more than happy to keep the U's banner flying at Stoke and for as long as the club wants me to.

"I will be a part of a four-man managerial team at the Britannia Ground and every member of that team has Colchester United pounding in their heart.

"With that passion and the support of the fans I am confident we will achieve the club's aim of establishing ourselves in the second division."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.