Okuonghae - U's players are still behind under-fire Ward

9:13am Monday 17th September 2012 in Sport

On target - Magnus Okuonghae celebrates his goal with his Colchester United team-mates during their 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Doncaster Rovers. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (CO69248-115) On target - Magnus Okuonghae celebrates his goal with his Colchester United team-mates during their 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Doncaster Rovers. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (CO69248-115)

Magnus Okuonghae has insisted Colchester United ’s players are fully behind John Ward, despite their disappointing start to the season.

The U’s are rooted to the bottom of the League One table after losing 2-1 at home to Doncaster Rovers, their third defeat on the spin.

Ward has been heavily criticised by some Colchester supporters, who believe they need a change of manager after failing to win any of their opening seven competitive games this season.

But Okuonghae – who scored his side’s equaliser in their latest defeat - has stressed that the U’s players are still behind their under-fire manager.

Okuonghae said: “The manager was one of the main reasons that I re-signed for Colchester in the summer.

“The players have got no qualms with the manager and we just want to get a run going.

“He’ll get stick because we’re not doing well but the players are getting stick, too.

“Everybody wants to see us winning, including us and that’s what we’ll try and make happen.

“You have to try and stay positive and that comes from the top.”

See Monday's Gazette for more on this story and a full match report and pictures from Colchester United's game with Doncaster Rovers, along with more reaction from the game.

Comments(12)

Surb says...
10:11am Mon 17 Sep 12

Is JW brain-washing players to say such things?

Magnus you are a fan's favorite, the last thing we want is them (the players and manager) and us (the fans). Can you not see that attendences are decreasing, the vocal supports are decreasing the vibe is negative? Supporters have given it their all and now at the point of giving up, unless changes are brought into play.

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Surb says...
10:14am Mon 17 Sep 12

Clinton M, said what he felt. And we all feel he got dropped because of it (even against doncaster he was a subsitute, but he has the fans backing as he was right, and honest.

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TheCaptain says...
10:19am Mon 17 Sep 12

What else can he sat. JW is rubbish - bench for Magnus

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totallyfootball says...
10:33am Mon 17 Sep 12

Well they have to be you muppet, no one else wants you and we all can see why now? Basement players will always be loved by clubs with no ambition and this one is a classic example.

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Mr Honest says...
12:41pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Nobody else wanted you Magnus thats why you came back. Well done to the Gazette today who actually turned against Ward slightly with their back page headline and also printed a lot of comments from disgruntled fans on here. Surely only a matter of time before he goes now? Another home defeat tomorrow night and Cowling really cant hide anymore.

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Matthegame says...
1:19pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Anything less than a thoroughly convincing win tomorrow against Crawley, will need addressing from the top brass. Cowling will need to come out and either back or sack after the game. Either way the fans need some transparency here, what is going on?

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Surb says...
1:28pm Mon 17 Sep 12

I agree Matt. But unfortunately can't see RC doing anything. Which is really worrying he must have noticed the number of attendances decreasing... (why else don't they announce the total attendances now towards the end of the game)

RC needs to act now before it's too late.
If he backs JW then I can't see Fans backing RC or the club. But if he sacks JW I can see the majority of the fans backing RC and hopefully numbers at the gates increase.

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We're not singing anymore!!! says...
1:59pm Mon 17 Sep 12

RC has previously backed JW when times haven't been good and rightfully so. That's what you would expect a chairman to do.

But he hasn't publically backed JW for a number of weeks now so I would imagine that even RC is getting fed up. Saturday was another bad result but you can't expect him to sack him when you have another game coming up as quickly as Tuesday.

I really believe that RC will show JW the door if we don't win on Tuesday. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already looking for his replacement.

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crazy comments says...
3:05pm Mon 17 Sep 12

To me its of vital Importance,whether we like John Ward or not to still get behind the team tommorow night. A win would do wonders for everyone and I still believe that good will come out of bad. I would like to see John White recalled to the back , and I may surprise a few people by playing Rose out wide as an attacking player on the left wing. Even if we have to revert to some of Aidy's tactics lets have plenty of balls pumped into their area. I've been a critic of J.W. tactics the last two years but after chatting with the guy in close season I felt may be I should give him the benefit of the doubt this season. I'm sure he will be hurting and frustrated just as much as the fans,the way things are at present. No one likes being bottom of the table, certainly not me, but the crowd does need to start Chanting ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK and not Ward out as this will only cause more pressure on the players. John Wards will know by now that he must change things around or else it will be goodbye. He must be brave with his tactics and tough on his players to survive, but he is such a wily old dog, I still think he will get us out of this mess.

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Steve86 says...
5:43pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Magnus We you still be behind him when we get relegated? (because with him we will)

I have to agree with the others here...when you first joined and the season after you were fantastic, but since then you have lacked the presence, and there doesn't seem to be any communication with you and the others anymore as you were more vocal.

Atleast you have to admit that Ward has managed poorly as 1, attendances have fallen . 2, we are bottom. And 3 we have won 1 game in the past 20. I don't blame the players I blame the fitness staff, training coach, RC and of course JW.

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Steve86 says...
6:50pm Mon 17 Sep 12

Steve86 wrote:
Magnus We you still be behind him when we get relegated? (because with him we will)

I have to agree with the others here...when you first joined and the season after you were fantastic, but since then you have lacked the presence, and there doesn't seem to be any communication with you and the others anymore as you were more vocal.

Atleast you have to admit that Ward has managed poorly as 1, attendances have fallen . 2, we are bottom. And 3 we have won 1 game in the past 20. I don't blame the players I blame the fitness staff, training coach, RC and of course JW.
I meant, will you still be behind him when we get relegated?*

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Mr Honest says...
7:35pm Mon 17 Sep 12

For the first time ever I hope the boys get beaten and heavily then Cowling cant not sack the imbecile. A win or a draw will just paper over the big cracks. What annoys me the most is that Ward has been in the game so long that he knows he should walk.

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