Matthew Etherington: Colchester United sack head coach

Matthew Etherington previously had a short spell in charge of Crawley Town in 2022

Colchester United have sacked head coach Matthew Etherington after an eighth loss in nine matches.

The U's are only one place and five points above the League Two relegation places after losing 1-0 to Gillingham.

Etherington was a youth coach at the club before taking over on an interim basis following predecessor Ben Garner's sacking on 21 October.

The 42-year-old took over permanently on 16 November but won just one league game after that.

The downturn followed a good start to his time as head coach when he won three of his first four matches.

"It's not easy, I'm not going to stand here and lie to you and say I'm fine," Etherington told BBC Radio Essex after what proved to be his final match.

"It's tough and the players are finding it tough as well with the results we've had recently, so it's a difficult moment for everybody and all you can do, until you're told otherwise, is keep going."

Colchester have not announced who will take charge of the side ahead of a trip to Swindon Town on Saturday.

Home supporters made their feelings about the club's recent results known to Etherington in no uncertain terms at full-time against Gillingham.

"They're entitled to their opinion, they pay their money to come and watch, so it's part and parcel of being in this role," said the former Stoke City and West Ham winger, who is 2024's first managerial casualty.

"I get it, and the results haven't been good enough lately, so it is what it is.

Etherington, who had a 32-day spell as Crawley Town boss in 2022 before resigning, added: "I believe in working a certain way, I believe in my principles as a person and I'll keep being me."

To compound Colchester's problems, leading scorer Joe Taylor has been recalled from his loan spell by parent club Luton Town after netting 12 times in 27 appearances and, according to Etherington, could now join a League One club.

Analysis - 'Experienced and thoughful appointment needed'

BBC Essex sports editor Victoria Polley

Matty Etherington's reign at Colchester United lasted just 47 days and with just one win in nine matches, there is little complaint about his dismissal.

Having been placed in interim charge from his role as under-21s coach when the U's dismissed Ben Garner at the end of October, it was hard to argue with his record of four League Two matches unbeaten and the feeling was that if he got the results, the club wasn't going to be looking elsewhere.

The U's poor run since then has left them just five points above the League Two relegation zone and it's a fourth season of struggle towards the wrong end of the table.

Chairman Robbie Cowling has to get the next appointment right, it is after all an eighth permanent head coach the club is looking for in just over three years.

With the team's perilous position in the table, an experienced and thoughtful appointment surely has to be the priority to ensure football league survival but with the January transfer window open, time is also of the essence for a new boss to come in and make their mark.