Cowling fully behind U's boss Dunne

9:09am Tuesday 15th January 2013 in Colchester Utd By Jonathan Waldron

Battling on - U's boss Joe Dunne has the full support of chairman Robbie Cowling. Picture: STEVE ARGENT Battling on - U's boss Joe Dunne has the full support of chairman Robbie Cowling. Picture: STEVE ARGENT

Robbie Cowling has backed Joe Dunne to steer Colchester United away from the relegation zone.

Dunne met chairman Cowling for talks yesterday, after the Irishman revealed he was considering stepping down as U’s boss.

Dunne said he was mulling over his future in the aftermath of Colchester’s defeat to fellow strugglers, Scunthorpe United.

The U’s 2-1 defeat resulted in them suffering a ninth successive league loss, a new club record.

But it was business as usual at the club’s Florence Park training ground, as the players prepared for their trip to play Hartlepool United.

And Cowling is putting his weight fully behind Dunne, as he aims to lift the U’s away from the League One danger zone.

Cowling said: “Joe Dunne is our manager and I’d love nothing more in the world than for him to turn things around.

“I’m fully confident that he can get us up the table and he’s working extremely hard to do that, as he always has." See Tuesday's Daily Gazette for more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news.

Comments(12)

Ozzie says...
9:49am Tue 15 Jan 13

Spineless, gutless reaction really, however, I do hope that Joe succeeds for the sake of our beloved U's! This is certainly a baptism of fire for poor Joe and I do hope he turns it round. One thing we all recognise is that there needs to be a cull of some of the current playing staff sooner rather than later, replacing them with committed and determined players prepared to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in! Our payroll must be at one of the highest levels it has been at for many years, with the worst return on the payments being made and only one person at the club has the ultimate power to make the decisions to change this. For sustainability, it needs to be done, Mr Cowling and please arrange a forum for the fans, like me, that attend regularly but do not have the resources to fund a season ticket at the outset of a season. I wish Mr Cowling showed the 'ordinary' fan more respect and listened to our views. Come on then Joe, let's give you until the end of the season for you to prove me wrong. Up the U's!!

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What's The Story? says...
10:08am Tue 15 Jan 13

So, it's a "spineless, gutless reaction" but you hope Joe turns it around and want sustainability. Right!

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totallyfootball says...
10:12am Tue 15 Jan 13

A statement to be expected, after all he gave him the job! I hope that Joe can turn it around, trouble with losing is it becomes habit forming and then you look to consolidate in games rather than trying to go out and win them. Good luck Joe.

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Ozzie says...
10:24am Tue 15 Jan 13

What I meant to say 'What's the story?' is that Mr Cowling should live by his decisions and axe his manager if he has no faith in him. I believe it would be best for the club if Joe left and we got in 'new blood' before it is too late. I believe, from what I have heard from people at the club, that Joe does not have the respect from the players and they won't perform for him, so that speaks volumes. Need to get rid really and now! However, if he stands by him, then we have to respect the decision and try to pull together to support Joe and hope he makes it! I doubt it, but hope I am proved wrong! Up the U's!!

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crazy comments says...
10:25am Tue 15 Jan 13

To call it a spineless,gutless reaction, is rather harsh Ozzie. I'm sure it will help Joe a great deal in knowing that he has a chairman backing him all the way. To kick a dog while it's down is not the right answer. Joe does not need telling by you,me or any other supporters that a big cull is needed. The majority of supporters, apart from a few Ward supporters fans, could see the writing was on the what was going to happen,last season,which has proved right. It takes time to gell players together and form a playing pattern that they all know. One thing we do need to change for me is not to have so many familiar people on the coaching staff. Well pleased that a new goalkeeper has now been signed till end of season. At present we have two goal keepers both not up to the standard required. It's a start now, and hopefully a win on Saturday would put a liitle bit of a smile on our faces. COME ON THE U's

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Bert_Stimpson says...
10:28am Tue 15 Jan 13

Cowling backed himself into a corner when he took the cheap option and gave Dunne the job permanently when he should have just given him the role on a caretaker basis until the end of the season.

League 2 won't be all bad. It's the Conference the year after that I am worried about. Still, at least we will have the best training facilities in the Conference. And we will also build more houses than any other club!

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
10:47am Tue 15 Jan 13

So some people are calling for a more experienced manager because Joe is out of his depth and/or inexperienced.

Well there surely isn't many more experienced than John Ward and look what he managed to do with the same squad of players (in fact, most of this is is caused by him in my opinion).

Personally I think Joe is doing well with the tools he has to work with. I'm glad Joe is staying and I'm pleased that RC has backed him.

Up the U's.

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angryman!!! says...
10:51am Tue 15 Jan 13

Spineless, to back a manger that lost 9 of 9, knowing that a huge investment of yours is facing rekegation? the spineless thing woukd have been would have been to sack him an got yet anither new manager. id love to know which managers people think are going to be queing up for the job, in relegation zone, low crowds, low finances and sacked two managers in half a season???
Also how do people know the contract that jd is on. i would be suprised if it was longer than currebt season. jd was obvious choice for manager, been around the club forever, loves the u's more than most fans.lets face it when the team went on that running streak he could do no wrong. If there are players that aren't playing for him, good luck to them, the majority of them will never be professional footballers again, as half the squad simply aren't good enough.
If you think we will be in the conference I very much doubt it, Portsmouth I would agree with but there's a hell of alot teams between us and the conference. Lets wait till next season to start to talking like that.
Also if we were to win at Hartlepool and Scunthorpe don't win, then were out of the drop zone Saturday 5pm.

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Clacc says...
11:25am Tue 15 Jan 13

I'm sure that when JD got the job it was stated that he'd be on a one-year rolling contract. I still don't feel that Joe is the right man for the job, but will back him to the hilt nevertheless.

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Ozzie says...
11:44am Tue 15 Jan 13

The harsh reality is this - we are where we are on our merits. We have got what we deserved so far. Inept, weak displays. There are lots of managers out there who would love a chance to manage a club like the U's. Fate is now in our own hands and we are also relying on other teams around us failing. I am an optimist and want the best for my beloved club, but we have to face facts - we are on a losing streak that is going to take a massive effort to change round. I really do hope we accomplish it, but on current performances, I just cannot see it.UP the U's!

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super waluigi says...
1:30pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Ozzie wrote:
The harsh reality is this - we are where we are on our merits. We have got what we deserved so far. Inept, weak displays. There are lots of managers out there who would love a chance to manage a club like the U's. Fate is now in our own hands and we are also relying on other teams around us failing. I am an optimist and want the best for my beloved club, but we have to face facts - we are on a losing streak that is going to take a massive effort to change round. I really do hope we accomplish it, but on current performances, I just cannot see it.UP the U's!
I cannot see how you can call yourself an optimist pal.
An optimist is someone who see's good in a bad situation. You are clan negative.

Angry man was right. Sacking Dunne would be the easy option. Just like Williams and Ward. I know a lot of people had issues with both and I did on particulars, but we need to unite, regroup and turn around our fortunes.
If Dunne did not think he could do it, he would step aside.

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brig 1 says...
6:45pm Tue 15 Jan 13

How long have you given him Mr Cowling to turn things around?

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