John Ward, has won the same number of league games as he has lost, as U's boss

YOU win some, you lose some.

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But in Colchester United’s case, under John Ward, you win exactly the same number of matches that you lose. It’s almost uncanny!

A small section of U’s home fans have been calling for Ward’s head, during the recent home fixtures against Scunthorpe and Chesterfield, and yet the 60-year-old’s managerial record with the U’s is actually very respectable.

In fact, there is a wonderful symmetry to the U’s under Ward. The numbers certainly add up.

Here is a run-down of the most symmetrical aspects of Ward’s regime, since his appointment on May 31, 2010:

n The U’s won 16 games, and lost 16 games, during their 46 league fixtures last season.

n The U’s have won nine, lost nine, and drawn nine of their 27 league games of this campaign.

n So in total, Ward has presided over 25 wins, and 25 defeats, from his 73 league games to date, equating to a winning percentage of 34%.

n Unsurprisingly, the U’s sit bang in the middle of the League One table, in 12th spot.

Looking at the wider issue, Ward’s managerial record puts him in the middle of the pack in terms of other Colchester bosses.

Taking into account cup games, as well as league fixtures, Ward’s winning percentage is 34.94% (29 wins from 83 games).

That’s a big improvement on some managers of recent times, including Geraint Williams (30%), Steve Whitton (29%) and Mick Wadsworth (29%). The one qualification is that the U’s were a Championship club for the bulk of Williams’s tenure.

The two managers immediately preceding Ward – Paul Lambert (45%) and Aidy Boothroyd (43%) – have better winning percentages, but then they had far more resources at their disposal, in terms of recruiting players, especially Lambert.

So under Ward the U’s have consolidated their position as a League One club.