Matt Holland believes Wayne Brown has the attributes to become an excellent skipper for Colchester United.

Brown joined the Layer Road outfit from Watford during the summer and has been appointed stand-in captain while Karl Duguid remains on the sidelines due to injury.

However, Charlton skipper midfielder Holland, a team-mate of the no-nonsense defender in his days at Ipswich Town, knows what qualities are needed to take charge of the armband.

Holland, who still lives in Colchester, told the Evening Gazette: "I remember Wayne as a young lad coming through the ranks at Ipswich.

"He was always a dedicated professional, has good organisational skills and is very vocal on the pitch and I'm sure he'd do a fantastic job if he had the role full-time.

"It does take a little time to get used to being captain. Obviously you've got to get to know all of the players and their strengths and weaknesses and get yourself settled in the dressing room. But Wayne is the sort of person that could do it easily."

Published Wednesday August 4, 2004

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