HAYDEN Mullins has taken over as Colchester United's head coach until the end of the season as they bid to avoid League Two relegation.

The U's have made the decision to put assistant manager Mullins in temporary charge at the JobServe Community Stadium, with Wayne Brown stepping aside.

Brown had nine games in interim charge of Colchester after taking over when Steve Ball was dismissed, on February 23.

But the U's claimed only one win in that time, drawing three and losing five.

And with Colchester now four points off the relegation zone with eight games remaining, U's owner and chairman Robbie Cowling has decided to act.

Mullins has been at the U's since taking over as Ball's assistant, in the week before the new 2020-21 season.

The 42-year-old has plenty of experience of working with young players, having worked as Watford under-23s manager.

Mullins, who made more than 600 career appearances for the likes of Crystal Palace, West Ham and Portsmouth, ended his four-year spell at Championship side Watford to join the U's.

He had caretaker spells in charge of the first team at Vicarage Road last season, when both Quique Sanchez Flores and Nigel Pearson departed.

That included the final two games of last season in the Premier League, against Arsenal and Manchester City.

Mullins had progressed to become Watford under-23s manager.

He had moved back to that role following the appointment of Vladimir Ivic as Head Coach, last summer.

Now Mullins is charged with trying to help Colchester steer clear of the dreaded drop.

His first game in temporary charge of the U's will be at promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers, on Good Friday.