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Colchester UnitedYou are in: Essex > Sport > Colchester United > Where now for the U's?  Can the U's match last season's success? Where now for the U's?Glenn Speller After the highs of their first season in the Championship, things have gone rather flat for Colchester United during the close season. BBC Essex Sport Producer, Glenn Speller, explores the current situation at Layer Road. It seems it never rains but it pours. This time last year Colchester United were dealing with Phil Parkinson's protracted departure to Hull and those who thought this would be a quieter summer have had a rude awakening. Exit this way.....First, Chris Iwelumo headed for the exit, joining Charlton, and accused the U's of lacking ambition and not doing enough to keep him.  Gone: Chris Iwelumo has departed to Charlton If the striker was talking about money then maybe he is right. But the fact is you are only allowed to use a certain percentage of your turnover on wages and, if the rumours are true about what Iwelumo is earning at Charlton, then anything similar at Colchester would have blown their budget apart. It seems easy for players to hide behind bland statements of clubs lacking ambition, or furthering their careers when maybe, just maybe, it is about pound signs. There is no shame in wanting to do the best for you and your family in what is a short career, but some seem reluctant to admit it. Iwelumo left and his strike partner Jamie Cureton was not long in being next to declare himself unhappy.
For a man who struggled at League Two Swindon just over a year ago, Cureton has come a long way. Winning the Championship's golden boot has alerted many clubs who this time last year would not have given the former Norwich man a second glance. The U's did, they took a punt and it came off in a big way. Cureton still has twelve months on his current deal, but contracts are worthless in the modern era and there are not many who would bet on him opening the season in a blue and white shirt. He has also played the 'lack of ambition' card and maybe Iwelumo jumping ship just re-enforced his feelings, or, perhaps he sees a final payday, and who can disagree with him?  Going?: Will Jamie Cureton be leaving Layer Road? Cureton and Iwelumo gone, and Richard Garcia will also depart, with Hull his next stop. But it does not stop there, with assistant-manager Mick Harford heading for QPR. This is a difficult one. The man has a back condition, a painful one. He is settled in Hertfordshire and has been travelling 170 miles to work so, offered something closer to home, is there really any blame to be attached? Poisoned fruit?Colchester United are discovering success brings its own problems. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Layer Road is a dump; four tin shacks around an award winning pitch. They have over achieved, but rather than enjoying the fruits of their labour, the vultures gather and pick them off.  Gone: Mick Harford takes his skills to QPR The new stadium would alleviate many of these problems, creating revenue and bigger crowds. More money could be spent on keeping their best players. But when will the stadium be built? (That is a rhetorical question by the way). But there is also a creeping feeling they are still 'thinking small.' The ground gives the impression of a League Two club, not one which finished tenth in the second tier. There is, in my view, a reluctance to push on and act like a big club, kick-up a fuss, upset people. The U's always seem to be reactive to situations instead of proactive. Yes, they held out for compensation for Phil Parkinson and will no doubt do so with Jamie Cureton, but why is it always Colchester United coming under siege? Why are they the ones fighting rearguard actions against the bullies in the playground? Will the U's forever be the scared little boy in the corner having his dinner money taken and the sand kicked in his face? On this evidence there is little to suggest otherwise. last updated: 25/06/07 Have Your SayWhat's your view on the current situation at Colchester United?
ian lawrence
Chris Powell
Krishna Anand
Allen Smith
David Welham
Terry Lawrnce You are in: Essex > Sport > Colchester United > Where now for the U's? |
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