Got news? Tell us!
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting gazette news to 80360, or email us i-witness@nqe.com »
Williams looks to experience to stay up
8:06am Tuesday 18th March 2008
Comments (10)GERAINT Williams has consulted some of the game's most experienced managers in a bid to preserve Colchester United's Coca-Cola Championship status.
The U's boss has admitted that in his 30 years spent in football as both a player and a coach, this has been his toughest campaign yet.
While his maiden season as boss saw him lead Colchester to a fine tenth-place finish in their inaugural season in the Championship, it has been harder this time around.
The U's continue their survival quest with a home match against Hull City tonight.
And Williams said he has consulted the likes of Arthur Cox and Brian Flynn, in a bid to improve his side's fortunes.
"I've spoken to guys like that because they have a wealth of experience and they have been there before," he told the Gazette.
"Being bottom of the league is new to me - and it's not a nice experience.
"No-one is enjoying it but we're all determined to learn from it and come back.
"You learn about the character of the players, staff and yourself.
"I've learned things about myself that I didn't know and I hope that it's all invaluable for the future.
"It's easy when you're at a club that's winning to keep the ball rolling - sometimes you can take that for granted.
"In this position, you think about absolutely everything and you make sure that you do everything that you possibly can to consult with people about how to get through what is a very difficult time for everyone."
Meanwhile, Williams has praised supremo Robbie Cowling for his support this season.
Williams was given Cowling's backing in last Thursday's Gazette, despite the club's lowly league position in the Coca-Cola Championship.
"Since Robbie has been here, he's been nothing but supportive in everything we do," said Williams.
"The chairman is very ambitious and he's always been very open and fair.
"He has a long term plan for this club that we can be in the Championship rather than to interlope between the divisions.
"We want to belong as a Championship club - both on and off the field.
"That's where the new stadium and new facilities come in.
"We're looking to build a home so that Colchester United can become a proper Championship club."
Your Say YourGazette
David, Colchester says...
10:04am Tue 18 Mar 08
Did they tell you how to organise a team to keep a clean sheet?
Did they tell you how to organise a team, full stop?
Wakey Wakey, Colchester says...
10:49am Tue 18 Mar 08
ColuSWF, says...
12:44pm Tue 18 Mar 08
Whilst we can all list what we consider to be mistakes made since the end of last season, I still believe that we haven't had much luck this year - and last year we had lots. Maybe if it had evened itself out we would have finished just above the relegation zone both seasons.
For me, the rest of this season is about pride, and about preparing for next season. Keep playing Elito and Wordsworth, and don't bother with the sub-standard players who will hopefully be exiting in the summer.
Oh, and lets hope Hull bring enough fans to out-number the police. I know Cardiff have a reputation, but Saturday was overkill and a massive waste of money. 20 police in an otherwise empty terrace 2? Doing what exactly?
WTF, Essex says...
4:52pm Tue 18 Mar 08
Wakey Wakey wrote:Mind you he could be listening to you W-W and sticking his head up his backside and pretending there arent issues. Oh I forgot, thats what he was doing. By the way does it whiff up there?
Hopefully they will have told him how to contend with supporters who think they know more than they do, giving ill informed advice from the terraces too...
Col U 'till I die, Alresford says...
6:37pm Tue 18 Mar 08
I really believe next year will be alot better.
I hope you all read this after a win tonight,
enjoy the game Col U fans.
The Tigers r GOIN UP, Hull says...
9:58pm Tue 18 Mar 08
Col U 'till I die wrote:I AM reading this after a win tonight.....thanks for 3 points towards our Premiership status. Enjoy going to Hartlepool & Cheltenham next season - sure you'll feel more at home there. **** on u ULL!!!!!!!
I think alot of people here look at last years defence, particularly Wayne Brown, with rose coloured glasses. We never had many clean sheets last year and let in quite a few like this year, the attack got us out of trouble last year, but as I keep stressing, those same scorers have failed to live up to their reputation this year. I really believe next year will be alot better. I hope you all read this after a win tonight, enjoy the game Col U fans.
Muffdiver, Colchester says...
10:18pm Tue 18 Mar 08
The Tigers r GOIN UP, Hull says...
10:35pm Tue 18 Mar 08
Col U 'til I die, Alresford says...
10:59pm Tue 18 Mar 08
Lets be honest here yes we will be playing league 1 next year, but really you are not Premier status, of course you dream it now but ask Derby it will be a long season, Fraser is the only class you have every one else was very on par with us. And remember the play offs are heart breakers for three teams anyway,
as you know with 11 men and a fair ref at your place we drew 1-1.
But really lookforward to not playing you next year.
In this section
- Martin signs for Ipswich
- Race making headlines and history
- Yeates says thank you to the U's
- U's close to making more signings
- Sheepshanks feels the excitement at Portman Road
- U's handed ultimatum by Carlisle over Williams deal
- Baldwin snubs rivals
- Pett Sounds: we really blew it in the Twenty20
- World Cup star backs Keane to do well
- Maldon could face former holders
Sponsored Links
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Pegasus, Colchester says...
8:48am Tue 18 Mar 08
You should have just come on here and listened to us lot. We have been seeing the problems for months. If we could have picked the team we would be mid table!