WHILE last night's Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at Gillingham will have improved caretaker manager Kit Symons' chances, Ian Holloway or Phil Parkinson would be the choice of most Colchester United supporters for the vacant manager's post.

Carl Marston

WHILE last night's Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at Gillingham will have improved caretaker manager Kit Symons' chances, Ian Holloway or Phil Parkinson would be the choice of most Colchester United supporters for the vacant manager's post.

But will U's chairman Robbie Cowling decide on experience, or will he take a gamble on a “lesser” name, as a successor to Geraint Williams?

According to his timetable of events, following Williams' departure as manager on Monday, September 22, Cowling will have drawn up a short-list of candidates and will have been conducting interviews this week.

Many names have been mentioned, and several relatively inexperienced candidates have admitted their interest in the job, led by Symons, Steve Lomas, Mark Robson and Paul Lambert.

Former Charlton coach Robson was actually in attendance at last night's game at Gillingham - but only in his capacity as the Gills first team coach. Robson is a former West Ham player, and Cowling has a close association with the Hammers.

Others, like Leyton Orient boss Martin Ling, have been closely linked with the job, but have publicly denied any contact with the Essex club.

Holloway would be a high-profile appointment. The 45-year-old enjoyed considerable success as manager of Bristol Rovers, QPR and Plymouth, although he presided over Leicester City's relegation from the Championship last term.

And of course Parkinson would mean a fairytale return for the man who guided the U's to promotion to the Championship in 2005-06. He is currently under contract as assistant manager to Alan Pardew at Charlton Athletic until 2010.

Even though the U's suffered relegation last season, and have endured a poor start to this season in League One, the manager's job is perhaps the most attractive that it has ever been, due to the club's move to their new Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Other experienced managers like ex-Preston and Derby boss Billy Davies, and former Cheltenham supremo Steve Cotterill, are currently out of work.

So there is no shortage of possibilities, and hopefully no shortage of candidates.