Former Colchester United manager Joe Dunne has returned to the club as lead coach of their under-18 team, replacing Eddie Keen.
Dunne stood down from his previous role as youth team coach at Gillingham earlier this week, the club having announced last month he would be leaving.
A former Colchester player, Dunne helped them win the Third Division - now League Two - play-off final against Torquay United in 1998.
His spell as manager lasted for two years from 2012 to 2014 and he later had a spell as assistant to Wayne Brown in 2022.
"There are a lot of boxes this role ticks for me. I'm a Colchester lad, if you like, and it's nice to be back in an environment I've been used to for many years," Dunne said of his new job.
"There's a lot involved and getting them EFL-ready will be a big part of the job.
"It's not just about the football, it's the emotional side of the game as well - the ups and downs that come with it."