COLCHESTER United boss Geraint Williams admits that he is “hurting badly” after his side's confirmed relegation to League One.The Welshman suffered relegation as a player, during his days as a defensive midfielder at Derby County and Ipswich, but neither occasion compared to his current anguish as a manager.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United boss Geraint Williams admits that he is “hurting badly” after his side's confirmed relegation to League One.

The Welshman suffered relegation as a player, during his days as a defensive midfielder at Derby County and Ipswich, but neither occasion compared to his current anguish as a manager.

Williams had experienced the extreme highs of a manager in his first season on the Layer Road hot seat, when guiding the U's to a remarkable 10th spot in the Championship last term, but now he is sampling the extreme lows.

There is nothing worse than the bitter taste of relegation, but that became a reality when Barnsley's shock 3-0 win at Watford, on Tuesday night, ensured that the Essex club were mathematically down.

Williams was actually at Portman Road, watching Ipswich Town's 1-1 draw against Cardiff City, although he did not discover his side's fate until his return home.

“I was hurting on Tuesday night, and I'm still hurting,” insisted Williams.

“There's no point in crying about it, but when I sit down and think about it later, it will probably hurt even more.

“It was an odd feeling to be relegated, when we were not actually playing. We knew it had been coming for a while, but it's not nice when it's finally confirmed that you are relegated.

“I suffered relegation as a player, both when I was at Derby and at Ipswich. I remember feeling very disappointed, but as a player there are some things that happen that are out of your hands.

“As a manager, though, you feel responsible for every part of the club. That's why it's hurting even harder than as a player,” added Williams.

Barnsley's win at Vicarage Road means that the U's can now only finish as high as third from bottom. But they will be looking to clamber off the basement during their last four fixtures, starting with tomorrow's trip to relegation-threatened Leicester City.