WAYNE Brown will set about preparing Colchester United's players for their trip to play Salford City after being named as their interim head coach.

U's 2006 promotion winner Brown has taken temporary charge of first-team affairs at the JobServe Community Stadium, following the departure of Hayden Mullins and Alex Dyer.

This will be Brown's third interim spell in charge of Colchester and he will be assisted by academy manager Dave Huzzey and former U's player, coach and manager, Joe Dunne.

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Last season, the current Maldon and Tiptree boss took temporary charge following the departure of head coach Steve Ball.

He presided over nine games before Mullins and advisor Paul Tisdale took over for the remaining eight fixtures of the 2020-21 campaign.

In a statement, chairman Robbie Cowling said: "Following the recent poor run of results, the difficult decision has been made to make a change and relieve Hayden Mullins and Alex Dyer from their respective roles at Colchester United.

"I want to make it clear that the responsibility for our current league position lies with everyone involved, both on and off the pitch, and I include myself in that and everyone remaining must shoulder some of that responsibility individually and collectively.

"I'd like to thank Hayden for ensuring our survival last season and thank both he and Alex for their hard work this season - and I wish them the best of luck in the future.

"Since I made this difficult decision on Tuesday night, I have asked Wayne Brown to take charge as the interim head coach and he has agreed.

"I hope that you, the supporters, will get fully behind Wayne and the squad for the packed schedule of matches in the immediate future."

Brown takes charge of a Colchester team who have lost their last six matches, in all competitions and lie third from bottom, in League Two.

The U's were beaten 3-2 at Sutton United last night, in what proved to be Mullins' last game in charge.