Wayne Brown has emerged as a surprise favourite, with the bookmakers, to become the new manager of Colchester United.

Former U’s skipper Brown, who has been working with the under-18s this season, is one of five coaches that chairman Robbie Cowling has been considering for the vacant post following Tony Humes’ decision to stand down last Thursday.

Richard Hall and John McGreal, who were the joint interim managers for last Saturday’s 5-1 defeat at Burton Albion, were the obvious early favourites to land the job full-time.

Former U’s skipper Brown, who led the U’s into the Championship as a trusty centre-half back in 2006, had an assisting role over the weekend, with all three men having a voice in the dressing room.

And Brown’s odds with the bookmakers, specifically Sky Bet, were slashed tonight, suggesting that the 38-year-old is very much in the frame.

The other two coaches to be considered by Cowling, as Humes’ successor – in addition to Hall, McGreal and Brown – are David Wright and Steve Ball, although they are the real outsiders.

Cowling has insisted that he wants the new manager to be installed before this Sunday’s FA Cup second round home tie against Altrincham.

He is adamant that it will be an internal appointment,