Colchester United's new manager Steve Whitton said he wants to take the U's right to the top.

As he prepared his shell-shocked squad for a tough Bank Holiday programme against Reading at home on saturday and Bury away on Monday, Whitton said: "I'm not here just as a stop-gap boss!

"I'm here to take the club forward and I want to stay here for a number of years yet.

"My immediate aim from the moment I was handed the job was to guide the club into the promotion play-offs.

"Just doing well this season is not good enough for me - I want to aim for the top and it would be great to see Colchester playing in the same division as our neighbours Ipswich Town.

"It was a big step for me when I first joined Colchester from Ipswich five years ago. I supported the U's even then and I didn't come to the club just to stand still.

"I have always strived to achieve the best in whatever I am doing and my first aim is to earn a new contract and see this club into the next division. A lot of people will no doubt laugh at me for that, but in this game you have to aim for the best.

"I will be telling my players to take a good look at Manchester United, how they play and all their good habits.

"Man U are the best and I want us to try and play like them."

Whitton is no fool when it comes to football.

He enjoyed several seasons at the top with West Ham, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham and Ipswich, so he knows exactly what he is talking about.

He also knows managing Colchester will be no cakewalk and from the moment he took over from former boss Mick Wadsworth, who resigned on Wednesday, he was told he must make do with the players he has already got.

"They can all play, make no mistake about that," said Whitton.

"We kick-off with two tough games against Reading and Bury and I've had a word with everyone about the task.

"I want my players to come off the pitch totally drained, mentally and physically. I want nothing less than a win."

Striker Jason Dozzell is ruled out with a cracked rib, but new boy Jamie Moralee is expected to start his first home match.

Keeper Simon Brown returns after suspension to replace Andy Walker.

U's (probable): Brown, Duguid, Greene, Burton, Wilkins, Keith, Aspinall, Gregory, Launders, Lua Lua, Moralee.

Joe Keith - ready for a demanding Bank Holiday schedule

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.