COLCHESTER United have drawn up a list of 12 candidates for the vacant manager's post, but they will not be appointing a new boss before next Monday's transfer deadline.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United have drawn up a list of 12 candidates for the vacant manager's post, but they will not be appointing a new boss before next Monday's transfer deadline.

Instead, U's Chief Executive Steve Bradshaw has confirmed that the Essex club will be sticking to their original timetable, with a short-list to be finalised later this week, and then interviewing to take place before and after the weekend.

Included in the list are managers with Premier League experience, and several who have won promotion with other clubs, although there are also a few younger contenders who have recently retired as players.

Ex-U's midfield maestro, Mark Kinsella, and his former Charlton team-mate Matt Holland, would fall into that bracket.

And there is a chance that Kinsella, who is currently the first team coach at Charlton, could return to the club where his career took off in the early 1990s - the 37-year-old would certainly be a big hit with U's supporters, as was reflected in EADT readers voting him as the greatest U's player of all-time in a poll to find the top 100 U's players a couple of years ago.

A combination of Kinsella working in tandem with ex-Ipswich midfielder Holland, who was released by Charlton over the summer, cannot be ruled out.

For the moment, though, owner and chairman Robbie Cowling, and the rest of the U's board, have a busy week of interviews ahead.

Chief Executive Bradshaw confirmed last night: “We had a total of 45 serious applicants, and we have whittled that down to a long-list of 12. The chairman will now speak to each of them over the coming days, and we'll be then looking to interview from the end of this week and the start of next.

“The fact that no decision will be made until after the transfer deadline (on Monday) does not concern us, because the loan window opens again the following week anyway. Players will be available then if needed to add to the squad.

“We have a Johnstone's Paint Trophy fixture at Gillingham next Tuesday, but it is more likely that the new manager will be in place for the following weekend's match at Southampton (September 5).

“The list is a terrific blend of young and ambitious, those who have won promotion, older more experienced guys who have won stuff, younger guys who have just finished their playing careers, all topped off by some who have managed at the top level,” added Bradshaw.

The U's Chief Executive confirmed that although interest had been shown elsewhere in want-away midfielder David Perkins, who requested a transfer at the end of last week, no firm offer had as yet been received.