Danny Cowley: Colchester United appoint ex-Lincoln, Huddersfield & Portsmouth boss

Colchester will be Danny Cowley's fourth job in EFL management after Lincoln, Huddersfield and Portsmouth

League Two strugglers Colchester United have appointed Danny Cowley as head coach on a two-and-a-half year deal.

The former Lincoln, Huddersfield and Portsmouth boss, 45, will be assisted by his brother Nicky Cowley, who has worked with him in his previous jobs.

It is a return to his native Essex for Cowley, who began his managerial career with non-league Concord Rangers and Braintree Town.

He succeeds Matthew Etherington, who was sacked on New Year's Day.

Ex-Stoke and West Ham winger Etherington only took the job on a permanent basis in November, but a run of eight defeats in nine games has left the U's 22nd - five points above the relegation places.

Colchester have not finished in the top half of the table since the Covid-interrupted 2019-20 season.

Cowley took training for the first time on Thursday, and will take charge of his first match on Saturday at Swindon.

The Cowleys in management

Cowley returns to football a year on from his last job at Pompey, although he was offered the vacancy at Bradford City before Christmas.

He and his brother Nicky are still best remembered for their time with Lincoln City but they started working together when Cowley was still a part-time manager, fitted in around his day job as a PE teacher.

After three promotions in four years at Concord, they took Braintree to the National League play-offs as a part-time club with a bottom-four budget.

After leaving Braintree for Lincoln in May 2016, they then led the Imps from the National League to League One in their three years in charge.

Danny Cowley and brother Nicky have always been a managerial double act

They then left in September 2019, for almost a full season in charge of Huddersfield Town.

Having arrived when the Terriers had earned just one point from their first six Championship games, it was early October when they won their first game but the Cowleys steered them to safety and an 18th-placed finish.

He and his brother were sacked in July 2020 before returning to football with Portsmouth in March 2021.

But Pompey finished that season two points shy of the League One play-offs, and came 10th in 2021-22 - and they were sacked in January 2023 after a run of nine league games without a victory.

Cowleys face 'a rescue job' - Analysis

BBC Essex Sport's Glenn Speller

Colchester owner Robbie Cowling has acted quickly and decisively to once again try to get the club away from trouble.

This appointment will go down well with the supporters.

The Cowley brothers started their successful coaching careers here in Essex - with Concord Rangers and Braintree Town. And they have been eternally linked with jobs at either Colchester or their county neighbours Southend.

Make no bones about it, this is a rescue job. Eight defeats in nine games has once again dropped Colchester into a relegation battle and the brothers will be coming into the club with their eyes wide open.

A change in playing style can be expected. The players will have to adjust quickly but, for now, substance will have to come before style and that means winning games - and quickly.

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