Football Season Review

Colchester started the season with a feeling of apathy surrounding the club, as it was clear following a summer without significant investment that the club wouldn't be able to push for a much desired Play-off place. However, it soon became obvious that the reality was even grimmer than it looked, as the U's started the season with a run of horrid results that kept them firmly in the relegation zone, and manager John Ward left the club eight games into the season, with the side still winless. First team coach Joe Dunne took over, used the loan market to strengthen the squad and went on to win five of his first six games in charge. The fans were starting to dream about an unlikely Play-off push, but things once again got grim after the great start of life under Dunne, as the U's went on a run of 12 games during which they recorded 11 defeats, with Dunne offering his resignation to the board, but being convinced by the club's chairman to stay on. The decision to stick with Dunne proved to had been a good one, as Colchester went on to win three in four, and started hovering just above the relegation zone with 15 games remaining - and that is a position that they maintained throughout the season. Following their disappointing home draw against Shrewsbury in the penultimate game of the season, they were left needing at least a point in their final game against Carlisle in order to stay up - and they duly delivered, beating the Cumbrians with a 2-0 scoreline to retain their League One status. Apart from getting his side to play decent football, Dunne also received a lot of praise from the fans for having the courage to cut ties with some of the players Colchester relied on for years, such as Anthony Wordsworth and Ian Henderson - needless to say, further changes will be expected over the summer, as Dunne will look to make the squad his own.

Player of the Season: Jabo Ibehre