COLCHESTER United boss Geraint Williams is no stranger to combing the country in search for an assistant.And the U's boss is on the look-out for his third No. 2 in the last 18 months.

COLCHESTER United boss Geraint Williams is no stranger to combing the country in search for an assistant.

And the U's boss is on the look-out for his third No. 2 in the last 18 months, following the surprise departure of Micky Adams yesterday.

Williams appointed Mick Harford as his first assistant in August, 2006, shortly after his appointment to the U's hot seat as a successor to Phil Parkinson.

The Williams/Harford combination worked well as United went on to finish 10th in their first-ever season in the Championship, before Harford's ill-fated move to QPR last summer as an assistant to John Gregory.

Harford did not last long at Loftus Road. Gregory departed at the beginning of October, and after a short stint as caretaker manager, Harford too was on his way as Luigi De Canio took over the reins of the by-now wealthy West London club.

In the mean-time, experienced manager Adams had settled in as the assistant to Williams at Layer Road. But the 46-year-old has only lasted half-a-season with the U's.

He already has bags of experience as a manager during his career, including at Brentford, Brighton, Leicester and Coventry, and feels that the time is right to become a No. 1 again.

Adams revealed: “I have enjoyed working with Geraint (Williams) and the players at Colchester during what has been a challenging period.

“However, I am a manager and want to be able to seize the opportunity, when it comes along, to add to the achievements that I have had over the past 10 years.”

Adams was recently linked with the vacant post at League One club Swindon Town, although Maurice Malpas is now in line to take that job. Ex-Motherwell boss Malpas will be officially appointed the Robins boss after Andrew Fitton's takeover of the Wiltshire club is complete.

U's manager Geraint Williams revealed: “Micky has attracted interest from other clubs who are looking for a manager which, given his record, is not surprising.

“When he came in to help me in July, it was part of our agreement that he would be able to speak to other clubs.

“We now think it would be in the best interests, of both Micky and the club, if he left and was available to take on a long-term commitment to a club that can satisfy his ambition to return to football.”

Williams is already trying to bring in some new players during the January transfer window, with Luton Town skipper Chris Coyne still on top of his shopping list. Now he needs to find a new assistant as well.

Meanwhile, former Colchester front-runner Dean Morgan turned down a chance to join League One promotion hopefuls Leeds United yesterday.

Morgan was expected to complete the move from Luton, following his loan spell at Southend. Leeds had agreed a fee with Luton's administrators, but Morgan could not agree personal terms with the Elland Road club.