A winless start to the season has cost Gills legend Joe Dunne his job at Colchester United.

Dunne has been manager of the Us for the last two seasons after working his way up through the club’s coaching departments.

He successfully kept the club in League 1 last season an opening draw at home to Oldham has been their only point so far.

Colchester have lost their previous four league matches and were beaten 4-0 by Charlton Athletic in the League Cup.

He played over 100 games for the Gills between 1990 and 1996 and ruing that time was also capped by the Republic of Ireland.

Dunne went onto join Colchester, where he had been ever since, leaving briefly for a short spell at Dover Athletic, where he made 11 appearances.

A club statement from Colchester said: “Joe Dunne has left his role as first team manager of Colchester United FC by mutual consent.

“Joe has managed Colchester for two years and has successfully kept the club in League One, despite the large cuts the club made to its playing budget following the introduction of the Financial Fair Play rules that clubs have to abide by.”