Robbie remains defiant despite defeat

CONTROVERSIAL chairman Robbie Cowling remained defiant after seeing his Colchester side suffer a 5-0 home mauling by Norwich City - but couldn't resist one last dig at the visiting fans.

Cowling has been at loggerheads with City since Paul Lambert defected to City last August, and fanned the flames in the build-up to Saturday's clash by insisting he would rather have empty seats in the Weston Homes Community Stadium than increase City's ticket allocation.

He sat just feet away from City's delighted directors as the goals went in and had to endure a stream of chants from an official visiting contingent of 1,900 City fans who took great delight in exacting some revenge for the 7-1 home mauling by the Us on the first day of the season.

But yesterday, Cowling issued a statement on his club's official web site insisting the game had simply strengthened his resolve.

"I would like to say a big thank you to Colchester United fans for the fantastic support you have given me," he said.

"I hope I have demonstrated my passion for Colchester United and, although the outcome of Saturday's game was not what we had all hoped for, I was very proud of the way the Colchester United fans got behind their club.

"I have experienced much worse days than Saturday and used those exceptional lows to drive me on to many of the exceptional highs that I have also been fortunate enough to experience.

"I promise you all that today I am more determined for Colchester United than ever before. Because of the people that I mix with, I am used to people telling me exactly what they think of me, but Saturday was the first time that thousands said it together.

"Well Col U fans were correct, there is only one Robbie Cowling."

Cowling said that perhaps the Norwich fans were correct in their X-rated views of his character, adding: "And as for 'Cowling, Cowling what's the score?' It's 7 v 6 to the mighty Colchester."