STEVE Ball is back at Colchester United.

The 51-year-old left his role as head coach last month after seven months in the position, following a disappointing run of form.

But the former U's boss, player and assistant manager is now back at the JobServe Community Stadium, where he is working in a player recruitment role.

Speaking to BBC Essex last night, U's chairman Robbie Cowling said: "Steve is doing really well.

"He's taken it very well on the chin what's happened to him, although he was extremely disappointed.

"Like Wayne (Brown) and us, we've invested over ten years in each other in getting to know the club and what we want to do and I'm loyal to people.

"With Steve, he's really gone into helping to try and sort out the different recruitment we need to do for next season.

"Whether we stay up or not, we have a very good opportunity next year to rebuild the team.

"We've not got many left in contract or hit next year's budget, because of what has gone on this year and Steve has gone straight into that absolutely fantastically.

"He doesn't want Wayne to suffer because maybe some of the players haven't been able to perform in the way that we want them to.

"I'm not trying to blame the players there - I'm just saying that Steve wants to make sure that Wayne has the best players while he's in charge, whoever is in charge at their disposal and I think that's a real credit to Steve Ball. It's fantastic."

Colchester lie seven points above the League Two drop zone with nine games remaining, following their 2-2 draw with Tranmere Rovers last night.

Mr Cowling has thanked the U's supporters who have stuck behind the side during their disappointing run - and has appealed for everyone to get behind the team in their battle to beat the drop.

"What we have to remember and what we've got to be really thankful for is those 500 or so really loyal supporters who are plugging into iFollow, giving us some revenue and getting behind the team and supporting them," said Mr Cowling, who also confirmed that popular former player and manager Joe Dunne is back at the club assisting interim first-team coach Wayne Brown on the coaching side.

"I'm really grateful to those who are doing that and for doing that because it needs it and the team understands that people are unhappy and it's not going to get us where we need to get to.

"Let's everyone get behind the fight that we're in and what we need to do and then when we get to the end of that, we can make judgements, about what was going on.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to the fans who are really sticking behind the team and there's a lot, lot more of them in Colchester than the people filling up your mailboxes."