THE boss of a defunct defunct sports trust said out-of-pocket parents would get their money back.

Steve Goodsell, appointed as chief executive of Colchester United Community Sports Trust last August, said it was a victim of the recession.

He also defended the management and board of trustees who have come under fire since the charity went bust on Monday.

Mr Goodsell was made redundant, along with 37 other CUCST staff, with immediate effect.

He has agreed to stay on for an extra week to help Colchester Council try and salvage as many of the lost services as possible.