COLCHESTER United's assistant manager, Micky Adams, has been linked with the vacant managerial post at League One strugglers Gillingham.However, U's boss Geraint Williams is confident that his No.

COLCHESTER United's assistant manager, Micky Adams, has been linked with the vacant managerial post at League One strugglers Gillingham.

However, U's boss Geraint Williams is confident that his No. 2 will stay at Colchester for the time being. Adams only arrived at Layer Road over the summer, as a successor to Mick Harford, who left to become the assistant to John Gregory at QPR.

Adams has bags of experience as a manager, having been in charge at Fulham, Brighton, Leicester City and most recently Coventry. Now he has been mentioned as a candidate for the post at Gillingham, following Ronnie Jepson's departure.

Jepson resigned last weekend, with the Gills lying third from bottom of League One. They have lost five of their first six matches, including a 3-0 defeat at Southend last Saturday, which was the last straw.

It looks likely that Adams will return to management one day, on the back of a successful track record.

Yet Williams is hoping that for the moment his No. 2 remains on the coaching staff.

“It's no surprise to hear Micky's name crop up, but if there's anything in it he'll come to me and we'll talk about it. We have a very open relationship,'” insisted Williams.

“We know what football is like. There are a lot of ifs and maybes, but we try to deal in facts here.

“Obviously he's been a successful manager and he might like to get back into management. But he's very happy working here,” added Williams.

Assistant manager Mick Docherty and first team coach Iffy Onuora are currently in charge at Priestfield on a caretaker basis.

Elsewhere, Hogan Ephraim has extended his loan deal at QPR for another month. The talented 19-year-old spent most of last season on loan with the U's, and Williams made no secret of the fact that he would have liked him to return to Layer Road this term.

Ephraim signed a new contract at his parent club West Ham over the summer. He has so far made three appearances for QPR, who have endured a difficult start to the season following the death of their striker Ray Jones in a car accident.

Rangers boss Gregory said: “Hogan is a quality player. He is very versatile and he has a good footballing brain for one so young.

“He's come in at a hugely difficult time for everyone connected to the club, and I'm sure we will see the best of him over the next month.”

Meanwhile, the U's return to action with an attractive home game against Charlton Athletic this Saturday. The Addicks have a strong Colchester connection - former U's striker Chris Iwelumo should lead the Charlton front-line, ex-U's boss Phil Parkinson is the assistant manager, and former midfield gem Mark Kinsella is the development coach.

The U's will welcome back target man Clive Platt after a three-match suspension, while the trio of Jamie Guy, Kevin Watson and Bela Balogh are all on the comeback trail after recovering from their recent injuries. All three featured in a friendly fixture against West Ham on Tuesday.