COLCHESTER United's owner and chairman, Robbie Cowling, slammed himself, some of the U's supporters, and the players for Geraint Williams' departure as manager yesterday.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United's owner and chairman, Robbie Cowling, slammed himself, some of the U's supporters, and the players for Geraint Williams' departure as manager yesterday.

Williams parted company with the League One club by mutual consent, on the back of Saturday's dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of MK Dons. The U's are now second-from-bottom in the table.

The team was booed off at half-time and at the final whistle, and a few fans confronted Williams after the match. Mr Cowling was unhappy with the lack of support shown to Williams, and by the overall display of the team.

“It's all been quite a shock for myself. I always thought that with George (Geraint) we could work it through and be successful,” explained Mr Cowling.

“I did not expect this. And the club has lost a good man.

“I feel that certain elements of the club have let him down. I think some of the fans let him down by turning against him at the last game.

“George is a very decent man and he's always been very loyal to his players. But I felt that the players let him down as well, because they did not deliver the right sort of performance for the work that he has put in for them.

“I never wanted to give him that dreaded vote of confidence, even though results were not going well. I don't think that he has been given time to turn it around. The fans turned very quickly.

“I was very surprised that the fans turned. It resulted in George and I needing to have a conversation over the weekend, and at the end of it we mutually agreed to be where we are now.

“It's not the first time I have had to part company with good people. It's happened a lot in business, but I'm very disappointed with the way it has happened on the day.

“I went to meet the players at the training ground in the morning, to give my opinion of events. It was a very subdued atmosphere.

“But let's not to be too hard on them. They players were discussing themselves, about how to change things, when I arrived,” added Mr Cowling.

Assistant manager Kit Symons has been installed as caretaker boss, working in harness with coach Joe Dunne. Symons will be in charge for the U's visit to Tranmere Rovers on Friday evening.

Mr Cowling also revealed that he would not be rushing into a new appointment. He has a time span of three weeks for a new manager to be in place.