Loyal Colchester United servant Joe Dunne has been promoted to reserve team manager by the Coca-Cola Championship club.

Dunne had been youth team manager for four seasons but will now lead the U's second string side.

Last season the U's reserve team finished second behind Ipswich Town in the Pontin's Holidays Combination League.

Colchester's Head of Youth Development Steve Downey will now lead the search for a new youth team manager.

For more on this story, see tomorrow's Colchester Gazette.