Background

Matthew Etherington, the former Premier League star and ex-Tottenham and West Ham winger, has been forced to step down from his position as interim boss of Colchester United due to a contract dispute with his previous club, Crawley Town.

The Situation

The U's sacked their former manager Ben Garner following their fourth-straight loss in League Two, leaving them in 23rd place. Etherington was named as the interim boss and led the team to victory over Grimsby in his first match in charge. However, Colchester chairman Robbie Cowling received a call from Crawley Town, informing him that Etherington is still under contract with them until May 2024. As a result, Etherington has handed over the reins to assistant Scott Marshall for their upcoming game against Accrington Stanley.

The Statement

Cowling released a statement confirming Crawley's concerns about Etherington potentially violating his contract with them. He also expressed his disagreement with Crawley's position and requested permission for Etherington to lead the team for the specific match against Accrington. However, the request was denied, and Etherington has been asked to step down.

Contract Dispute

Etherington was appointed as the Under-21 lead coach at Colchester in June and hit the headlines in December when he was sacked by Crawley Town after just three games as their manager. He had named Simon Davies as his assistant and won his opening match against Swindon Town. However, two subsequent defeats led to his dismissal.

A Troubled Past

During his playing career, Etherington battled a gambling addiction and accumulated significant debts. West Ham lent him £300,000 to help with his financial troubles. He retired from playing in 2014 after a successful career with Peterborough, Spurs, Bradford, West Ham, and Stoke City.

Overall, the contract dispute between Matthew Etherington and Crawley Town has led to his resignation as interim boss of Colchester United. The matter will be resolved through legal counsel, and Etherington hopes to return to his coaching role once the dispute is settled.