John McGreal

After a 17-year playing career spent with Tranmere Rovers, Ipswich Town and Burnley, John McGreal started his coaching career at Colchester United, where he was appointed as a professional development coach at the club’s academy in 2009. He later became co-manager of the U18 side that won the Football League Youth Alliance South East title and the Youth Alliance Cup, before becoming manager of the Colchester’s U21s. He was appointed the club’s first team manager after Colchester’s relegation to League Two in May 2016 and, such was the improvement in form under his stewardship, he was voted the division’s manager of the month for December that year. He left the club in July 2020 despite leading the Us to the play-offs.