GOAL-hero Richard Garcia sincerely hopes that the new long-term manager of Colchester United is revealed today after yesterday's series of interviews.Garcia followed up goals at AFC Sudbury and Tiptree with a cracking strike in Saturday's 2-0 win at League One club Bournemouth.

By Carl Marston

GOAL-hero Richard Garcia sincerely hopes that the new long-term manager of Colchester United is revealed today after yesterday's series of interviews.

Garcia followed up goals at AFC Sudbury and Tiptree with a cracking strike in Saturday's 2-0 win at League One club Bournemouth. Now he wants all the unsettling speculation to end.

“We are running out of time. We really need the manager to be in place, whether that be George (caretaker Geraint Williams) or someone else,” insisted Garcia.

“It's affecting the players just a little bit. Everyone wants to know who the boss is going to be so that he can prepare for the new season and bring in some new players.

“We have a small, small squad at the moment. Our strength last season was that we had a big squad, full of good players, which meant we could fight for promotion. But we don't have that at the moment.

“The squad is looking very thin on the ground, in all positions, and that includes up front, where I played today. We really just have a starting XI, and not very much else,” added Garcia.

Fellow marksman Pat Baldwin, who netted the second from a corner routine in the second-half, echoed the sentiments of Garcia.

Baldwin said: “We need some more bodies in the club. We want the new manager to come in quickly, for some stability.

“George (Geraint) Williams has done a terrific job in getting all the lads fit and we are all behind him. He has the backing of all the players.

“We did fantastically well to get promoted last season, and now we have a big season ahead of us. The club has never been so high (second tier of the Football League),” added Baldwin.

Williams confirmed that he was attending a second interview yesterday morning for the vacant manager's job. He is one of a shortlist of candidates.

Tottenham coach Chris Hughton, former Charlton assistant Mervyn Day and ex-Gillingham player-boss Andy Hessenthaler have all been linked with the job, while the U's had an approach for Birmingham City assistant Eric Black turned down last week.

In the past, U's chairman Peter Heard has made a habit of coming up with some surprise choices as manager, including George Burley in 1994, Mick Wadsworth in 1999 and a little-known Phil Parkinson just over three years ago.