COLCHESTER United have placed Wayne Brown in interim charge following last night's departure of Steve Ball as head coach.

Brown, the manager of Maldon and Tiptree whose Pitching In Isthmian League division north season is currently suspended due to the Covid-19 restrictions, will be in charge for 'the next run of games' after Ball departed.

Brown's first game in charge will be Colchester's trip to play Forest Green, on Saturday.

In a statement, U's chairman Robbie Cowling said: "It was with massive regret that I made the decision to remove Steve Ball from his role as first team Head Coach.

"Steve has worked tirelessly for the club for the last ten years and he absolutely loves Colchester United.

"Steve is a very good and a very well respected coach and it is a shame that his opportunity to manage the first team has coincided with what has been the most difficult of years for the club.

"If I could have afforded Steve more time to turn things around, I would have done but football is a merciless business and I decided that the only way to steer us out of the current rut was to change the first team Head Coach.

"I have asked Wayne Brown to take over the role of First Team Coach for the next run of games that see us playing every Saturday and Tuesday for the next few weeks.

"It’s a difficult run of games and I want to give Wayne every opportunity to succeed in those games. Therefore I am not looking for any other applicants at this time."

Brown was initially the bookmakers' favourite to take over as U's head coach from John McGreal when he departed last summer, prior to Ball being appointed.

U's promotion winner Brown led Pitching In Isthmian League division north side Maldon and Tiptree to the brink of the title before the 2019-20 season was curtailed, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And the Jammers had also made an excellent start to the current campaign, prior to it being suspended.

Brown, who made 160 appearances for Colchester and won promotion with with them as a player in the 2005-06 season, has already had experience of being in caretaker charge of the U's.

He had a short spell in charge of the U's in the 2015-16 season following the departure of Tony Humes as manager.