Faithful U's are praised

1:04pm Friday 16th May 2008

Comments (5)   Have your say »

League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan has praised Colchester United for keeping faith in boss Geraint Williams.

The U's have bucked football's national trend by sticking by the Welshman, despite the club's relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship.

Williams is in the top-30 longest-serving managers list, having spent nearly two years in the role.

And of the 24 managers that started the Championship season, only 14 are still in their jobs.

Colchester finished bottom of the Championship, with only seven wins to their name.

However, they have given Williams their full backing, after chairman Robbie Cowling insisted he will still be in charge when the club kick-off their new life in Coca-Coca League One.

And Bevan thinks the stance taken by the U's in standing by Williams is a commendable one.

He told the Gazette: "We're delighted that the board at Colchester United has kept faith with Geraint Williams.

"In the 2006-7 season, they enjoyed the club's highest-ever league position of tenth and Colchester have a new ground on the way.

"The chairman, chief executive and club as a whole look at the way a manager operates at a club when assessing his overall contribution.

"In addition to results, they also look closely at the way he interacts with the likes of his players, his backroom staff and the media and all of these things need to be considered."

Bevan has been critical of the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City over recent months, accusing them of undermining Rafael Benitez and Sven-Goran Eriksson respectively.

The former England cricket players' chief believes they should follow the example of the U's and keep faith in their manager.

"We're releasing a report soon which will look at the benefits in looking at clubs running with managers and coaches," added Bevan, who was appointed as the LMA's chief executive in January.

"We realise that football is business and clubs such as Colchester United invest heavily in their clubs.

"But we're always delighted when they show loyalty in their managers."