WAYNE Brown has appealed for Colchester United's supporters to get right behind the team when they take on Salford City today.

Brown is preparing to preside over his first game in interim charge this afternoon when they take on the Ammies, at Moor Lane.

It has been an eventful week on and off the pitch for Colchester, with the departure of head coach Hayden Mullins, the defeats against Sutton United and Barrow and the heated discussion between U's chairman Robbie Cowling and fans outside the JobServe Community Stadium, last weekend.

Brown said: “It’s hard given the position that we’re in for us to ask the fans for positivity.

“But if I’m totally honest, we need to get behind the team because that’s the only way that we’re going to get success if we’re in this together.

“There can’t be a them and us.

“I know there’s been a lot said over the last week or so about different things but we need to park it, because the longer that goes on, the harder it’s going to be to achieve success as a club.

“So all I would ask is to get behind the lads as much as they can, be as loud as they can and just come and support the team.

“When you’re on a reasonably poor run, I think you’ve got to try and lift the group – you’ve got to get in their heads.

“You’ve got to be positive and that’s our job.

“If we were coming in to do anything different, then we’re in the wrong business.

“We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be tough but confidence is something that you need to do well, in any sport and football is no different.

“It’s just about filling the lads with confidence, getting them into a mental head space where they are going onto the pitch thinking and knowing that they’re going to get results and that will only come when the points starting getting on the board.

“When that happens, you can really start building on that winning, clean sheet, ruthless mentality which we’ve got to have.

“The lads have been brilliant in training - they’ve been lively, they’ve been loud."

Gazette:

Brown has begun a third spell in interim charge of Colchester, having previously taken temporary charge of them in the 2015-16 and 2020-21 seasons.

The former U's promotion hero took the helm in similar circumstances last season, with the club struggling near the foot of League Two.

Brown was at the helm for nine games last season, with Hayden Mullins then taking charge.

“My experience last year can only be of benefit, this time," said Brown.

“Last season was tough, of course it was but the experience that I’ve gained will be valuable for this time around.

“Decisions that you make going into games, the preparation that you do putting into the lads.

“I think we had nine games in four and a half weeks, so they come thick and fast and it’s not going to be any different, this time.

“I don’t know how long I’m going to be here for but after Saturday, we go Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday, so it’s going to come thick and fast but sometimes, that’s a good thing.

“I’m not here to look back; I’m here to look at Salford and to prepare the lads the best way that I can, the best way that Joe can, the best way that Dave can and us as a collective giving as much information into the group, which they can absorb and making sure that as soon as they step over that white line come Saturday, they know exactly what they’ve got to do.

“We’ve got no time to look back; it’s now looking forwards and looking to the next game.

“We’ll come up with a plan, the best that we feel is appropriate for the game against Salford.

“It’s going to be a different game to the game on Tuesday night and it’s one game at a time.

“It’s an old cliché but we’re just worrying about Saturday and preparing the lads in the best way that we can for Saturday, to give ourselves the best possible chance of getting three points."

Gazette:

Brown was in interim charge of Colchester when they travelled to play Salford, last season.

The U's came away with a creditable 0-0 goal-less draw on that night - but this time around, Brown wants a win.

Brown added: “The lads were very good and very disciplined on the evening at Salford, last year.

“But both teams are very different in their personnel.

“They’re under new management, as are we so it’ll be a totally different game.

“But we’re still looking to go there and be solid – but ultimately, we want to go there and win the game.

“We don’t want to hang on for draws or stay in games, we want to win the game and if that’s in the first minute, brilliant; if it’s in the 92nd minute, brilliant – but that’s our aim."