COLCHESTER United have appointed Kit Symons as their new assistant manager, in succession to Micky Adams.Manager Geraint Williams welcomed his fellow Welshman Symons to Layer Road yesterday.

Carl Marston

COLCHESTER United have appointed Kit Symons as their new assistant manager, in succession to Micky Adams.

Manager Geraint Williams welcomed his fellow Welshman Symons to Layer Road yesterday. The duo both played for Wales and took their coaching badges together.

Ex-Portsmouth, Manchester City and Fulham stalwart Symons, who was a central defender during a long and successful playing career, therefore becomes Williams' third assistant in the last 18 months, following Mick Harford (whole of last season) and Adams (first half of this campaign).

Ironically, Harford was also in the news yesterday when he was named the caretaker manager of financially-troubled Luton Town. The former Hatters centre-forward had left Layer Road last summer, due to a back problem that had hampered his travelling between his Hertfordshire home and the Essex club.

Williams was understandably delighted with Symons' appointment. Joe Dunne, who had been the acting assistant since Adams' departure earlier in the month, will now fill a new position as first team coach.

“I have known Kit through the Welsh squad, and he is well thought of in their set-up,” enthused Williams.

“I also spoke to Peter Taylor about his time with Kit at Crystal Palace, and he was very complimentary about him.

“Kit was an international defender and will know that part of the game, but he is also coming in as a keen coach in all areas of the game.

“He has the same sort of ideas on football as me and I think he will fit in perfectly with the rest of the first-team set-up,” added Williams.

In addition to making more than 500 appearances as a classy defender, 36-year-old Symons enjoyed considerable experience on the coaching staff at Crystal Palace.

He had a prominent role under manager Peter Taylor, both as an assistant and coach, and also became the caretaker boss following Taylor's departure. He left Selhurst Park in October following Neil Warnock's arrival as the new Palace manager.

Symons was at Layer Road to watch Colchester United Youths take on Aston Villa last night.