John was appointed First Team Coach at Colchester United in May 2016.

He brings with him vast experience of the professional game, having enjoyed a 17 year playing career with Tranmere Rovers, Ipswich Town and Burnley, playing over 400 games before hanging up his boots in 2007.

His time at Rovers was part of a successful time at Prenton Park, with Rovers winning promotion, reaching the play-offs three times and getting to the semi-finals of the League Cup in his stint there.

During his time at Portman Road, he helped Town to promotion to the Premier League, going up via the play-offs with a 4-2 win over Barnsley.

Joining the U's in 2009 as part of the coaching staff at the club, he progressed to become U21s manager, helping them to an impressive fourth placed finish in this year’s Development League Table. His coaching has also helped provide a springboard into senior football for a number of the U's academy graduates and the last couple of years have seen the likes of Frankie Kent, Tom Lapslie, Kane Vincent-Young, Sammie Szmodics, Macauley Bonne, Femi Akinwande and Louis Dunne all make their first team break through.