PETER Heard has stood down as chairman of Colchester United, to be succeeded by current owner Robbie Cowling.Mr Heard made the decision over the weekend, after a long association with the club stretching back to 1991, when he joined the board with the U's stuck in the Conference.

By Carl Marston

PETER Heard has stood down as chairman of Colchester United, to be succeeded by current owner Robbie Cowling.

Mr Heard made the decision over the weekend, after a long association with the club stretching back to 1991, when he joined the board with the U's stuck in the Conference.

After a spell as vice-chairman, Mr Heard took over as chairman from Gordon Parker in 1998 and has overseen a terrific upturn in fortunes, both on and off the field.

The U's are in a stable position, financially, as well as recording their highest-ever position in the Football League (10th in the Championship) last season.

Mr Heard, who handed over his controlling shareholding to Mr Cowling last September, will stay on in the role of consultant as the U's prepare for the move to their new Community Stadium for the start of the 2008-09 season.

Furthermore, he has accepted an offer from the Board to become the U's Life President, in succession to Maurice Cadman, who died at the end of last month.

New chairman Mr Cowling said: “Peter has certainly left the club in a far better financial position than how he found it.

“I promise in my new role as chairman to do my best to continue his legacy in running this club in the same financially astute manner, and to carry on taking this club forward into the future.”