Symons would love the Colchester job

Colchester caretaker manager Kit Symons did his chances of taking the job on a permanent basis no harm at all after the U's won a thrilling encounter 4-3 at Tranmere on Friday night.

Former Wales international defender Symons was temporarily handed the managerial reins at Layer Road following the sacking of Geraint Williams last week and that victory against Rovers lifted the Essex outfit out of the bottom three.

And Symons said he was delighted with the players' response at Prenton Park after what had been a difficult week for the players and staff at the club.

"It's not a game I will forget in a hurry. It was quite an eventful night and the scoreline does not tell the story. It was an outstanding performance by us and I was delighted to get the win," said Symons.

"Some of our defending was excellent but there were also some scary moments. But everyone was top drawer and I am really, really pleased. We had to lift the players and they responded very well."

Chairman Robbie Cowling will spend the next fortnight mulling over the applications for the manager's job but in the meantime Symons has been told he has the full backing of the board. Symons added: "I'm in the driving seat and it's down to me, the players and the staff to start winning football matches. It's a great opportunity for me and one I intent to enjoy.

"I was very disappointed with the way things turned out for Geraint. It's very sad to see a good man out of work. But it gives me and the players the opportunity to start winning football matches."

Meanwhile, club skipper Chris Coyne says the players should take some responsibility for Williams' sacking. "The manager is the first person to get it in the neck. We take part responsibility because he put faith in us to do well. But the disillusionment towards the manager (from the fans during Williams’' last game in charge) was a big factor.

"It was disappointing to see that directed towards someone who has been such a great servant for the club and a great person. I can understand why the supporters were unhappy but it wasn't nice to see."

The U's are unlikely to be short of applicants to replace Williams but two names who appear to have ruled themselves out of the running despite being linked with the post are Phil Parkinson and Teddy Sheringham.

Parkinson, who guided Colchester to promotion to the Championship in 2006, is currently working on the coaching staff at Charlton, while Sheringham brought the curtain down on his illustrious playing career last season after a spell at Layer Road.

But agent Barry Nevill, whose clients include both Parkinson and Sheringham, said: "Three of my clients haven been linked with the vacant Colchester United job over the last few days – Teddy Sheringham, Kevin Keegan and Phil Parkinson. However, none of them will by applying for any job at Colchester United at this stage."