FORMER Colchester United manager, John Ward, has emerged as the favourite to be appointed the new Director of Football at Plymouth Argyle.

Ward was dismissed as U’s boss at the end of September, following a poor run of results that had seen the Essex club slide into the relegation zone.

The 61-year-old had guided the U’s to back-to-back 10th spot finishes, in League One, in 2010-11 and 2011-12, but he had struggled to meet such high standards this term.

But just over two months later, following his departure from the U’s, and Ward is the favourite to take over as Director of Football at League Two club Plymouth.

It is believed that Ward is currently discussing terms with Argyle.

He is no stranger to the south-west region, having earlier in his career been the manager of both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers, as well as Cheltenham.

Plymouth’s young manager, Carl Fletcher, has already revealed that he would welcome an experienced Director of Football, to turn to for advice.

And Ward would certainly fit that bill.

Ward was dismissed as U’s boss, following a 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe at the end of September. He had failed to win any of his first nine games of the campaign.